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