As a kid, I loved to swim. If my parents let me, I would’ve spend all day, every day at the pool. It was, and still is, one of my favorite activities.
The part I never look forward to is adjusting to how cold the water is. I used to take forever to get all the way in.
One day, when I was a kid, my teacher saw how long it was taking me to get in the pool. She pulled me aside and gave me some advice. The best way to get used to the water, she said, was to just dive in.
I think what’s true of swimming is true of the Scriptures.
In order to truly UNDERSTAND the Bible you must dive IN to the Bible. (Tweet This)
The Bible can be a pretty intimidating book. It’s thick, it’s got lots of chapters, and has more than a few passages that are hard to understand. It’s easy to understand why most people limit their Bible intake to pithy quotes on social media and what they hear at church on the weekend.
But God wants more for you than these spiritual appetizers. The Bible says in Joshua 1:8, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (NLT).
Our Heavenly Father wants you to feast off His Word. We can’t have a healthy body if all we live off are snacks. Likewise, we won’t become spiritually healthy if all we do is “nibble” on God’s Word.
If you want to get the most OUT of the Bible, spend time each day IN the Bible. (Tweet This)
Find a devotional or a Bible reading plan to guide you through. If you’re new to reading God’s Word on your own, start in the New Testament. Read through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Epistles (pretty much everything in the Bible after John). Then, go back and read the Old Testament.
I know it’s a little weird to start reading a book in the middle. The Bible isn’t like any other book, so you shouldn’t read it like any other book.
You don’t have to read a book of the Bible a day. You won’t make it if you gorge yourself, but like any good workout, you won’t see any improvement if you don’t push yourself.
When you come across something you don’t understand, sit with it for a while. Pray about it. Ask wise Christians in your relational world for their insight. Do some research online. You may not find the answers to all your questions, but you’ll learn something important along the way.
Question: What’s God been showing you in His Word? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Jeff McClung 