“For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, AMP)
Growing up Catholic, we heard Bible passages read by the priest during mass. Mom held onto the little white Bible received at my baptism as a keepsake. A large family Bible was displayed underneath the squared-glass living room coffee table in our home, merely for looks like the other knickknacks around the house. As a family, we were familiar with The Book in our surroundings, but the Word did not live in our hearts.
Fresh out of high school, I developed friendships with a group of believers on the junior college campus I attended. My new Christian friends made an impression on me. They were full of life, love, and genuine concern about the spiritual condition of others. They used the Scriptures to encourage others; this living water of the Word flowed out of them like a river (John 7:38, NIV). My desire to read and know the Word came from this outpouring that flowed out of them. As they encouraged me with the Word, I developed a heart of faith:
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).
This experience would lead me to read God’s Word for myself. Starting with Genesis, I became a disciplined reader. At first, I wanted to know everything in it for its knowledge, and I wanted to understand what it meant to be a committed Christian. Though the Word of God always breathed life into me, it would take many years before duty (my daily reading the Bible, check it off the to-do list) would turn into a real love for His Word. My reading for knowledge turned into a desire to know God deeper, solidifying a relationship with Christ.
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How to Start Reading the Bible
- Start somewhere! If you don’t want to start at the beginning in Genesis, start where you are in life. Here are some suggestions:
- Read the gospel of John if you are a new believer. Why this book? It is an account of Jesus’s walk here on earth from the perspective of John who was one of the pillars, someone in Jesus’s inner circle. It follows the ministry of Jesus as He came to earth to fulfill His purpose for us.
- Read the Psalms if you are facing heartache. Each psalm is relatively short. As each psalm is written like a prayer, this book will also increase your comfort level on how to communicate with God.
- Read Proverbs if you need wisdom. Though it navigates various topics, it reads relatively simple and easy from one idea to the next with implications that are hard to forget.
- Make a daily habit out of it. Decide ahead of time when you will do it, and discipline yourself to do it. I like to read in the morning. I have always arrived to my workplace fifteen to thirty minutes before my workday begins to make sure that time is set aside.
- Limit distractions! Get the most you can out of this time of reading and studying the Word. It can be hard for us to disconnect from the world and our responsibilities, but time well-spent in the Word is profitable for you and for those around you when you do reconnect with the world.
- Once you have read the whole Bible from Old Testament to New Testament, keep on reading! Does your physical body need food every day? Likewise, your spirit needs its proper food: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, NIV).
- Don’t just read it. Study it. Reading a text and studying a text are two very different approaches. In my 8th grade English language arts classroom, I allow my students to read the text first as a whole (chapter or passage). Then we go back over it, breaking down its segments and parts. Seeing it modeled for us sometimes is the best teacher. Studies by Beth Moore are very helpful and useful in seeing how to breakdown word origins and how to approach a passage for study and deeper understanding of His Word. Also, research and learn how to access resources like The Logos Bible app (It’s free!) that will enhance your study of the Word.
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Scripture affirms that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1-3 and 14, NIV; Ephesians 4:8-10, TLB) and that Jesus is the revelation of the true nature and person of God. There is no better way to know Him than by reading His Word.
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