Reading The
Word Of God
Psalm 119:18
Many true believers, I fear, read the Word of God very
little. As a result of their neglect of the Holy Scriptures they get little
comfort from the Word when they need it, they are never really established in
the truth of God, and their lives are a long, sad history of mistakes made
because of their ignorance of God’s revelation. This neglect of God’s Word is
as shameful as it is costly. If you have been negligent in this area, repent of
your negligence at once and begin reading the Word of God this very day with
regularity, seeking to know and worship him of whom the Book speaks.
Are you willing to read the Word of
God? Do you want to profit from it? Here are seven suggestions which I picked
up from J. C. Ryle several years ago that will help you to profit by the
reading of the Word of God.
1. Read the
Bible with an earnest desire to understand it. Do not be content to just read the words of Scripture. Seek to grasp
the message they contain.
2. Read the
Scriptures with a simple, childlike faith and humility. Believe what God reveals. Our reason must bow to
God’s revelation.
3. Read the
Word with a spirit of obedience and self-application. Apply what God says to yourself
and obey his will in all things.
4. Read the Holy
Scriptures every day. We quickly lose
the nourishment and strength of yesterday’s bread. We must feed our souls daily
upon the manna God has given us.
5. Read the
whole Bible and read it in an orderly way. “All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God and is profitable.” I know of no better way to read the
Bible than to start at the beginning and read straight through to the end, a
portion every day, comparing Scripture with Scripture.
6. Read the
Word of God fairly and honestly. As a
general rule, any passage of Scripture means what it appears to mean. Interpret
every passage in this simple manner, in its context.
7. Read the
Bible with Christ constantly in view.
The whole Book is about him. Look for him on every page. He is there. If you
fail to see him there, you need to read that page again.
Don Fortner