If you’re reading this, I don’t need to convince you that the Bible is an amazing book. It is the revelation of the God above, a lamp beneath our feet, a rock of certainty in uncertain times, and it contains the most beautiful news that we can ever hear: the love of Jesus Christ, Lord of all, poured on a cross for you and me. Given that it is the Word of God, exhaled by Him, it is a holy, beautiful, worthy, just, wise and good book. And so we approach the Bible in humility and faith, with the understanding that all its words are true and deserve our total obedience.
Amen? Amen!
But it doesn’t always feel like that.
Even though we Christians are the people of The Book, we don’t always feel like going to it. It is very easy for us to drift away and spend weeks, or even months, without spending significant time in the Scriptures. It has been my case at different times of my Christian walk, and I’ve heard it first hand from a hundred others. What follows are five suggestions that can help us in our search to desire the Bible more.
1. Repent (before God)
All over the Bible, we see the tendency in man’s heart to ignore God’s voice and go after other voices more like ours. Look at the prophets (i.e. Jeremiah 7:27; Amos 8:11; Ezekiel 2:7). We are God’s sheep and we hear His voice, and we have the Holy Spirit that leads us to the things of God. And yet we’re also sinners, living in a fallen and broken world, and are easily tempted to forget our need and dependence on God. And so we need to go to Him in repentance and faith. This might be the most important step: we are always looking for guidance and advice. If we’re not going to the Scriptures, we’re going somewhere else. And so, even before you keep reading, I’d recommend you take a moment and go before the Lord right where you are. I stopped writing and repented as well.
2. Ask (him to open your eyes)
When the psalmist said “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction” (Psalm 119:18), he knew what he was talking about. The Bible is amazing, but our eyes are not always right. Sometimes they’re closed, sometimes they’ve lost their focus. Because He loves us, God’s constant desire is that we go to Him in His Word. He knows we can’t do it by ourselves, for we are but dust. So, ask! Ask the Lord to help you appreciate His Scripture, to desire His Truths, to crave for His Words. And you know what? If you ask according to His will, He hears you! (1 John 5:14)
3. Start (small)
One day you decide enough is enough: you’re going to work out. So after years of not doing it, you start running until you pass out. The experience traumatizes you, and you spend a few weeks recovering. You also make no progress. You need to be constant and consistent. So once you decide you’re going to start reading, start small. Something more than a verse here or there, but not a whole book. Someone once recommended to me years ago to begin the morning reading the day’s proverb, and I’ve been doing it ever since. That’s a good way to keep track and make progress.
4. Try (it in audio)
In my city, traffic can either be chaotic or unbelievable. Going basically anywhere means spending at least half an hour in your car. But the other day, rush hour in my car turned into the best of seminaries, as it allowed me the opportunity to listen to all of Paul’s letters. There are many apps that allow you to do this, and there are also plenty of free versions on YouTube.
5. Commit (for real)
I’m diabetic: I don’t use insulin only when I feel like it. I know I need it to survive. You know what? You and I need the Bible more than I need insulin. What’s more, God and His Word are infinitely worthy of all our attention. It’s true that not having the habit makes it harder. And we are always in constant need of the gospel of God’s forgiveness. But life is in that book, so, let’s commit! Maybe you want to bring someone else into this: a significant other or a friend or coworker. In any case, there’s no silver bullet, but there is a glorious God waiting to meet us in His Book!