There are many ways of studying the Bible. One is to read it through slowly, verse by verse, meditating on what is being said. This tends to miss the overall message of the book as a whole. The opposite is the marathon Bible reader who gallops through all 66 books at least once a year. Sadly, there is little spiritual food gained.
Another obstacle that often dead-ends people in their desire to absorb Scripture is their use of some archaic translation of the Bible. Our mind cannot flow easily with the words and thought forms. When I want to just sit and read Scripture, I recommend the God’s Word Version or The New King James Version, both excellent up-to-date and highly readable translations. For more serious study, I recommend The Legacy Bible Translation. It derives from the most respected Translations like the American Standard Bible, but with more contemporary language.
We do not meet with God for ten minutes or even an hour a day. He lives in us, and we live in Him! He is our life. We do not cross the road or enter a building to meet with Him, for we are never separated. The time set aside to read His Word and meditate is quality time with the God with whom we live, move, rest in. It is a time when every demanding thought is set aside to see life through His eyes in His written Word.
One of the first and continuing steps in meditative reading is the use of our imagination. Our imagination is not only God-given, but an activity only enjoyed by the one creature made in the image of God. With this faculty, we can project ourselves anywhere in time or geography.
The following is a brief outline to help you as you come to examine and experience the Scripture:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wishes to speak to you in this passage. I do this very simply and expect Him to do so.
- Remind yourself that you are dedicated to hear exactly what God is saying to you through this particular passage you have chosen.
- Become thoroughly acquainted with the Scripture, reading it over in as many versions as you can lay your hands on.
- As you read and re-read, write down any questions that arise from the passage. Always begin by asking who was the person speaking, and to whom were they speaking?
- Turn to your reference books. If you plan to share God’s Word with others, you should begin to build up a reference library.
- Apply what you discover. Ask yourself how you can live out this new insight in your life today, or in this week. Write a brief note of what you believe God is saying to you personally.