A Sprint or a Marathon

 Philip ran over and heard the man readingfrom the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you arereading?”

The man replied, “How can I, unlesssomeone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sitwith him. (Acts 8:30-31, New Living Translation)

I’ve read through the entire Bible twice, and to behonest, I don’t know how much I got out of it. I read it like I was running amarathon, just to get through it. No stopping to look at the sights, no talkingto those around me, no taking pictures. No understanding it.

A few years ago, I started reading through the Bibleagain, starting out at a sprint, which soon came to a stand-still as lifestarted happening all around me. My goal now is to finish that great Book butto get something out of it. Take my time, research what I’m reading, understandwhat God is actually saying in those 66 books (or 80 books in some versions ofthe Bible or even 100 books if you read the Ethiopian Bible).

There are a lot of great stories in the Bible, besidesthe wisdom of Solomon, the preaching of the apostles, and so much more. Eachand every word in the Bible is well thought out and inspired by God. It’s abook to be read, and also one to absorb and be understood.

And not to be raced through, but to be lived.