Dear Christian | Read the Word

Dear Christian,
You know you're supposed to read the Bible.  You know it's the inspired Word of God and sharper than a double edged sword.  But maybe you're struggling along and don't know where to start.
Well, guess what - I'm right there with you.  Reading the Bible can become a tedious chore that we do every day to cross off a box and feel good about ourselves.
It doesn't have to stay that way.
Reading the Bible isn't a chore.  Relationships don't work if we have a list of "do"s and "don't"s.  If we live with that perspective, we have it all wrong.
Here's why:  God didn't have to create the world.  He chose to.  He wanted to make people who willingly chose to love and serve Him.  When we instead raised our tiny fists in anger, He gave us a second chance.  God created a way for us to return to Him so we could be restored to Eden one day.  The Bible is His letter of love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and salvation.
When we read the Bible, we're reading the Words of eternal, mighty God.  It's not drudgery - it's a blessing beyond words.
That Creator wants to have a relationship with you.  He wrote a long, passionate letter that tells the story of His love.  It shares stories of people He loved who made decisions.  Some embraced and followed Him; others treated Him with scorn.
The Bible shares the songs of praise that fellow Believers lifted up to heaven.  It offers practical advice in living in His presence.  It directs us to the path of Salvation.  Beyond our wildest imagination, God finished His letter with a peek into the future when evil would be overthrown and we would return to Eden to live in His presence.
It's a love letter.  Because He wants to be your Best Friend.





















Some people make rigid structures in how you need to read that love letter.  You start here and read until there.  You highlight these verses or underlines those ones.

That's all good in and of itself.  If you need a schedule to motivate yourself to keep being in His Word, use one by all means!
I haven't found a verse or chapter in the Bible that tells me how to read it.  But it does tell us that His Word should always be in our hearts.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 

Go find yourself a quiet place.  Turn on soft music or push away the noise.  Pull out pens, highlighters, notebooks, dictionaries, or concordances.  You could study original Hebrew or Greek text through online sources such as this one.
You could sing.  You could dance.  You could pray, or memorize, or read.
But dear Christian, be in the Bible.  Read from cover to cover.  Pray through verses and hide God's Word in your heart.
Sometimes I read chapters end upon end.  I race through books and then sit back, soaking in the beauty of the overarching story.
Several weeks ago, I decided to see what it's like for so many of our brothers and sisters across the globe.  I took four loose pages of a book of the Bible that happened to be Romans.  I then spent my time digging through these few chapters as if that was all the Bible I had.  For some people, it is all they have.
My friend, read and write and pray away!  Sweep through entire books or chew on every word.  How you read the Bible or where you start doesn't matter.  Just do it.  Don't put it off for later, because, if you do, you'll never going to start.
Being a Christian is so much more than reading an old book and going to Church.  It's a relationship.  Let's seek after Jesus.
If you've discovered a Bible reading plan or method that works for you, please share it in the comments.  This is the most important Book we'll ever read.  I want to receive it with gladness and embrace the message God wrote for us.  I hope you do too.

How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word. 

- Psalm 119:9


All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

~♥~