“For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3–5).
David O. McKay said, “All good things require effort.” This is especially true of the Bible. It is a supernatural book that has the power to change your life, but that won’t happen if you don’t know what it says. An old English pastor, Thomas Watson challenges us to keep reading the Bible “… till you find your hearts warmed. . . .Let it not only inform you, but inflame you.”
It does take some determination to open the Bible and read it regularly, but today I want to show you some ways that will make it easier.
First, make sure you have a Bible that is readable for you. If you are using a Bible that was translated a long time ago, it will use words that are unfamiliar to us today. If you don’t know the meanings of the words, you can’t understand God’s message to you.
Here are some good translations that I recommend: The New American Standard 1995 Update, and the English Standard Version are both very accurate translations in modern English. If you want a translation that is even easier to read, the New International Version may be what you need. Some people find the New Living Translation the easiest of all to read.
If you can invest a little more money, there are some very helpful study Bibles that will help explain many of the Bible’s treasures. The MacArthur Study Bible and the Ryrie Study Bible are two excellent choices.
No matter what translation you choose, you may occasionally come to a word you don’t understand. When that happens, take a minute to look up the meaning. Remember, you are reading a message from the God of the Universe!
As you read the Bible, make sure you are asking the Lord to open your heart to understand it. Here is a very helpful prayer you can use that comes from Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law Modern technology has opened up some exciting (and free!) ways to understand the Bible. If you have a question about what you are reading, www.crosswalk.com is a very helpful website. Also, it is always best to have a plan, and there are dozens of ways to read the Bible. By going to www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan, you will find many different reading plans to choose from. Here is a reading plan that has been very helpful to me: Take a short passage of Scripture, like the book of Philippians. It is a good place to start because most people can read it in 10 minutes. Read it every day for 30 days. After about 10 days, you’ll probably feel like there is nothing new for you to learn, but keep reading. As you read, ask yourself questions like: What words or phrases are repeated in this book? What is the author (in this case Paul) trying to say to the Christians he is writing to? What does this book say about God? Etc. If you will keep reading the same portion of the Bible for 30 days, you will feel like you own that part of the Bible—or you could say that it now owns you! If you want to have the Bible read to you (on your computer, Ipad, or smart phone), I know of two good options: www.youversion.com is a very helpful program, and my favorite is www.bible.is because it dramatizes the reading. My favorite version is the ESV dramatized. If you love Jesus Christ, then you will love the Bible—because it is all about Him. If you want to get to know Jesus Christ, then the Bible will lead you to Him. If you will make Bible reading a priority, I know you will find great joy. I’d love to hear how the Bible is blessing you. Also, I am always happy to answer any Bible questions you may have.
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