READING THE BIBLE

As we attempt to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, there a number of things that we must purpose to do to achieve it. God has lavished the church with many means of grace that cause us to never relent from the worship of Him. One among the foundational means of grace is the reading of the Bible. From my childhood in the Lord, reading the Bible has been one cardinal means of grace. To separate it from the Christian life and worship is tantamount to denying the Trinity. Therefore because of such immeasurable worth of the Scriptures, be encouraged to read the bible in a different way this year.

On page 2567 to 2575 of the ESV Study Bible (2008) is an article on Reading the Bible. This articles explains five essential ways of how to reading the Bible: Reading the Bible Theologically; Reading the Bible as Literature, Reading the Bible in Prayer and Communication with God; Reading the Bible for Personal Application and finally Reading the Bible for Preaching and Public worship. In that fashion is this article. I have tried to summarize it for those who may not have access to the ESV Study Bible and particularly to the young in the Lord who would wish to read through the whole Bible this year.

As a pastor, I am many times guilty of reading the Bible for preaching and teaching purposes. At times I find myself justifying my studying for preaching as my devotional time as well. Many believers are equally guilty of this mentality; reading the Bible as a dictionary or as an answer book to life's questions. That ought not to be the case; there are more and better reasons than that. God wants every believer to read the Bible for his/her own nourishment and growth in the Lord.

Part I. Reading the Bible Theologically

Let us begin with "Reading the Bible Theologically". Every time the word theology pops up in a conversation or writing, many young Christians tremble and feel incompetent to biblical studies. This word simply means the "Study of God". Here we mean reading the Bible "With a Focus on God" His Being, Character, Works, Purpose, Presence, Power, Promises and Precepts. To achieve this, every Bible reader must keep the following aspects of the Bible in mind.

First, God's church and people individually, must consider the Bible as an Instructional Manual. The church is called upon to be seen as a people of the book (Bible). The Bible cannot be separated from the church or the Christian. Any attempt to do that has always 'sunk the ship'. Those who have done so have ended up nowhere but in total blindness, heresy and pain. For that reason as you read the Bible, remember that God is instructing you on how you should live your life for His praise and glory.

Second, the Bible is canonical. A canon is a rule or standard. God has set forth the Bible as His unchanging standard of truth, right, love and goodness, wisdom, worship, doctrine and devotion. You are to read it as a God-given rule of belief and behavior. Any other standard is human initiated and will soon or later fail you. Apart from the Bible all other standards, no matter how high they may be set, they are totally separated from the only true authority of life- the God of the Bible. Thus, as you read the Bible, remember that it is God's rule and standard of how you should live your life for His praise and glory

Third, the inspired Scripture: As unique as the incarnate Christ is- both human and divine, so is the Bible- both Human and divine. The Bible is the breathed out word of God by God Himself. It is God witnessing to Himself in and through the Scriptures. Therefore the Scriptures must be read as God's own self- revelatory instruction, given in the form of human testimony. In the Bible, God tells the truth about Himself. Therefore as you read the Bible this year remember that it is God Himself speaking into your life of how you may live your life for His praise and glory.

Fourth, the Unity of the Bible: Keep away from the misconception that assumes the Bible to be a ragbag of religious bits and pieces, which are unrelated to each other. Rather the Bible is a beautiful carpet in which all the complexities of the weave display a single pattern of Judgment and Mercy, Promise and Fulfillment. The Scriptures are so unified with God at the center. Jesus Christ has fulfilled all prophesies, hopes, promises, and dreams and has linked the two testaments together in an unbreakable bond. It is so unified as a product of one single mind- the mind of God. Therefore as you read through the Bible this year remember that God wants you to know His revealed single mind so that you may live your life for His own praise and glory.

In conclusion, as you read the Bible always remember that you hold in your hands God's given guide to sinners for their salvation and godliness; God's handbook to the church for worship and service; the spoken mind of God.

Reading the Bible theologically follows these elements and is done with God at the Center, looking and listening for Him throughout its pages, with the controlling purpose of discerning Him with maximum clarity, through his own testimony to His will. Such reading is pursued prayerfully for illumination and seeks the help of the Holy Spirit.