Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Factors Affecting Reading the Bible Deeply

Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, PART II: SPIRITUAL HABITS, Chapter 10, "Reading the Bible Deeply", Question 2, Page 66.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


Why is obedience a vital part of getting deeper into God's Word?
PHOTO: Why is obedience a vital part of getting deeper into God's Word?
A disciple of Christ is one who treasures the Word of God and reads it daily. He or she has a hunger for God's Word similar to our physical hunger for food. "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). "But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him" (1 John 2:5 NLT).

The necessity of reading and meditating regularly on God's enduring Word was spelled out in God's instructions to Joshua in the Old Testament. "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" (Joshua 1:8 NLT).


What are some factors that hinder Bible reading and meditation?
1. Chronology
The Bible was written between about two and three thousand years ago. Times have changed since Moses parted the Red Sea and David ruled as king over Israel. Understanding the historical setting of the Bible and specific book you are reading can greatly help you bridge the gap between then and now. If we don’t first understand what the Bible meant to its original audience, we will not faithfully interpret it in our 21st-century context.

2. Culture
The biblical authors wrote to distinctive groups of people in distinctive places throughout the ancient world. The Bible often assumes readers know specific cultural details and use the details to teach a lesson. For example, the woman at the well in John 4 might not jump off the page to a 21st-century American reader. A Jew around the time of Christ would have seen how Jesus crossed cultural taboos by talking to a Samaritan woman who was rejected even by her own people, and revealed Himself as the Messiah promised to her forefathers.
 
3. Language
The 66 books of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew (most of the Old Testament with a little Aramaic) and ancient Greek (the New Testament). The nature of languages makes direct translation sometimes difficult. The original language might have words to express something crucial to the story that a receiving language may not have. Today we have many dedicated scholars who faithfully translate God’s Word into modern languages. Your Bible might even have small footnotes describing different ways a passage could be worded in Hebrew or Greek. While language is not normally a major obstacle for reading a modern translation, it can be an issue when studying the original language at a deeper level.

4. Scripture communicates spiritual truths
1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Our natural minds often struggle with what we cannot see and what is not easy to understand. This is one reason why God illustrates many spiritual truths with everyday things we do understand like God as our Father and our need to be “born again.” We can take heart that even the apostle Peter had a tough time understanding some of what Paul wrote (see 2 Peter 3:16)!

5. Sin
Our sin separates us from God and blinds us to spiritual reality–making reading and understanding the Bible more difficult. When we come to Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit who helps us in our fight against sin and also reveals the truth of Scripture to us (John 14:26). As we grow in holiness and are taught God’s Word through faithful study and the Spirit’s help, we will grow in our comprehension and delight in His Word.

6. Not knowing how the Bible storyline fits together
If a new Christian reads the book of Genesis, they may ask themselves, “Why should I care about a promise God made to Abraham thousands of years ago?” The reason is because God’s promise applies to us today in Jesus Christ. Understanding the Bible’s storyline and its great themes (often called the discipline of biblical theology) allow you to trace the development of themes across the timeline of Bible history and understand how each part of the Bible ultimately has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

7. Weak reading comprehension skills
Much of today’s communication is done through sound bites, tweets, and other forms of multimedia communication. People don’t read carefully anymore because they don’t have to, which makes reading the Bible (and other forms of literature) difficult. Learning simple techniques like looking for repeated words, asking good questions of the text, and keeping a close eye on context will empower readers to make helpful observations that will bring the meaning of Scripture to life.

8. Not knowing how to read the genres of the Bible
You don’t read the editorial section of the newspaper the same way you read the comics or advertisements. You adapt your thinking to the type of content you are reading. The same is true with the Bible: historical narratives should be treated differently than poetry and the apocalyptic literature of the Bible should be treated differently than New Testament letters.
 
9. Not working hard at understanding the Bible
God knows that understanding the Bible takes work and prayer, but so often we want quick benefits from the Bible without putting in the necessary labour. A famous preacher once said that any true devotional reading of Scripture has to care about understanding what the text is actually saying to truly be devotional. It would be like a husband trying to show love to his wife but not trying to understand what she was saying.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul writes to Timothy to tell him that he is to work hard in his study, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Paul knows that a failure to work diligently at studying the Word can make people mishandle the Word and miss out on God’s approval.

How can we break down these barriers?
There is much in the Bible we can understand today if we would just pick it up and read!

God didn’t make His Word too difficult for us to understand or write it solely for the original recipients. God’s Word is for our instruction and our encouragement as well. Romans 15:4 says,

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (emphasis added).

If reading the Bible is difficult for you, approach study prayerfully with a willing and humble heart. God will help you and reward your effort.

In your Bible reading, seek to encounter the Living Christ and find life in Him (John 5:39-40). God promises that His Word won’t return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). Dedicate yourself to become a person of the Word by studying it, obeying it, and treasuring it more than you treasure gold and silver (Psalm 119:72). God will reveal Himself to you in a powerful way.

May God richly bless your study of the Scriptures!
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"I bet you don't know the Lord's Prayer," one man challenged his friend.

"I bet I do!" the friend replied.

"I bet you a dollar you don't."

"I bet you five dollars I do."

"Okay, let's hear it."

"Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

"All right, here's your five dollars. I didn't know you knew it." [40]

We may smile when we read this story about biblical illiteracy among some Christians. Indeed, there are some Christians who do not read the Bible regularly or have not read the Bible at all.


Biblical Illiteracy
PHOTO: Biblical Illiteracy
We may smile when we read this story about biblical illiteracy among some Christians. Indeed, there are some Christians who do not read the Bible regularly or have not read the Bible at all.
Picture posted by Rod Anderson, CP Cartoonist
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbfVlsKF3dmZoI0s8jStUIJLdoGdYzRMUfo9iu1Hejk4-yfPqKQ4ra3141wy_jRlLMiaW1Ot-o9aBgbLGlqNfkD5Ca7u2LfPKEH7bSSyRWROBq-i85q5GKBQF4JJh9HWStG53SYZHVvY/s1600/48634_w_760_1213.jpg
https://cdn.christianpost.com/files/cache/image/4/86/48634_w_760_1213.jpg
https://www.christianpost.com/news/biblical-illiteracy-59802/


Why is obedience a vital part of getting deeper into God's Word? What are some factors that hinder Bible reading and meditation?

Why is obedience a vital part of getting deeper into God's Word? [1]
A disciple of Christ is one who treasures the Word of God and reads it daily. He or she has a hunger for God's Word similar to our physical hunger for food. "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). "But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him" (1 John 2:5 NLT). [41]
 

A disciple of Christ is one who treasures the Word of God and reads it daily.
PHOTO: A disciple of Christ is one who treasures the Word of God and reads it daily. He or she has a hunger for God's Word similar to our physical hunger for food. "But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him" (1 John 2:5 NLT).
Picture posted by Radio Menard on 28 July 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7Uut8dsLfVLqSd4RIRgVl6oDrRhWDdFE2pAHcEXOr6NlzWG6bxC4ZDi8ocgpBE7w2J3Z81jY5sxtFUNC3XnRC948vUQetCrRaX01vRS5W8wUAcR2yW8DUsBnkO-KCWveJCulYTDTxTU/s1600/37905966_1064023307080126_995341422259339264_n.jpg
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https://www.facebook.com/radiomenard/photos/a.370454543103676/1064023303746793


The necessity of reading and meditating regularly on God's enduring Word was spelled out in God's instructions to Joshua in the Old Testament. "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" (Joshua 1:8 NLT).


The necessity of reading and meditating regularly on God's enduring Word was spelled out in God's instructions to Joshua in the Old Testament.
PHOTO: The necessity of reading and meditating regularly on God's enduring Word was spelled out in God's instructions to Joshua in the Old Testament. "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" (Joshua 1:8 NLT).
Picture posted by 小贺1982 on 13 August 2019 at 14:25
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http://inews.gtimg.com/newsapp_bt/0/10001690055/1000/0
https://kuaibao.qq.com/s/20190813A0EHU900?refer=spider
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-reading.html


What are some factors that hinder Bible reading and meditation? [2]
1. Chronology
The Bible was written between about two and three thousand years ago. Times have changed since Moses parted the Red Sea and David ruled as king over Israel. Understanding the historical setting of the Bible and specific book you are reading can greatly help you bridge the gap between then and now. If we don’t first understand what the Bible meant to its original audience, we will not faithfully interpret it in our 21st-century context.


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Chronology
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Chronology
The Bible was written between about two and three thousand years ago. Times have changed since Moses parted the Red Sea and David ruled as king over Israel. We may not understand what the Bible meant to its original audience.
Picture posted by Una Habitacin Propia on 18 July 2016 at 18:13
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KkFQjvW3voDcTENHLhOQvNVLTNy9lSDAY19p63mHa0LkJlFo_jIq5OK6EdsEv9_cyv5eAD2PrxGmrzC7vHUT-lZ_wAY8ZDMPbEcVxICmu0259J-qz6HoYKKeZ86dH6xJ2If3-5WcPmU/s1600/mujer+lapida+3.jpg
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http://unahabitacinpropia.blogspot.com/2016/07/siempre-no_18.html


2. Culture
The biblical authors wrote to distinctive groups of people in distinctive places throughout the ancient world. The Bible often assumes readers know specific cultural details and use the details to teach a lesson. For example, the woman at the well in John 4 might not jump off the page to a 21st-century American reader. A Jew around the time of Christ would have seen how Jesus crossed cultural taboos by talking to a Samaritan woman who was rejected even by her own people, and revealed Himself as the Messiah promised to her forefathers.


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Culture
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Culture
The biblical authors wrote to distinctive groups of people in distinctive places throughout the ancient world. The Bible often assumes readers know specific cultural details and use the details to teach a lesson. A Jew around the time of Christ would have seen how Jesus crossed cultural taboos by talking to a Samaritan woman who was rejected even by her own people, and revealed Himself as the Messiah promised to her forefathers.
Picture posted by Mark Sengele, Seeds of Faith
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJNSTBvCZ9TbjQHEEqZBWjnnsiVmzpA_B5gXkqpQUQGKPzqvrOv9l-qaAC9ioINrcDXqXfdwOhAirK_D3fFHAa6Rk_4NQCoDAUnQ9EGxZoUiOMvUSfkQHSfKP0-AjP2ejwSbeOv1I1IM/s1600/cph_30119997812.jpg
https://seedsoffaith.cph.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cph_30119997812.jpg
https://seedsoffaith.cph.org/2016/12/21/new-testament-2-lesson-4-jesus-and-the-samaritan-woman/
 

3. Language
The 66 books of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew (most of the Old Testament with a little Aramaic) and ancient Greek (the New Testament). The nature of languages makes direct translation sometimes difficult. The original language might have words to express something crucial to the story that a receiving language may not have. Today we have many dedicated scholars who faithfully translate God’s Word into modern languages. Your Bible might even have small footnotes describing different ways a passage could be worded in Hebrew or Greek. While language is not normally a major obstacle for reading a modern translation, it can be an issue when studying the original language at a deeper level.


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Language
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Language
The 66 books of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew (most of the Old Testament with a little Aramaic) and ancient Greek (the New Testament). The nature of languages makes direct translation sometimes difficult. The original language might have words to express something crucial to the story that a receiving language may not have. While language is not normally a major obstacle for reading a modern translation, it can be an issue when studying the original language at a deeper level.
Picture posted by Hello to you from Tbilisi (Georgia)
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https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2d/0d/14/2d0d14beb0a9fb347539d0ef0f3cbcfe.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/talifakymi/magic/


4. Scripture communicates spiritual truths
1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Our natural minds often struggle with what we cannot see and what is not easy to understand. This is one reason why God illustrates many spiritual truths with everyday things we do understand like God as our Father and our need to be “born again.” We can take heart that even the apostle Peter had a tough time understanding some of what Paul wrote (see 2 Peter 3:16)!


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Scripture communicates spiritual truths
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Scripture communicates spiritual truths1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Our natural minds often struggle with what we cannot see and what is not easy to understand.
Artwork by Emmanuel Garant
Picture posted by Dale Kelley, uploaded on 19 March 2015
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https://live.staticflickr.com/7651/16858042321_52d2e7c93d_h.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47888952@N02/16858042321/


5. Sin
Our sin separates us from God and blinds us to spiritual reality–making reading and understanding the Bible more difficult. When we come to Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit who helps us in our fight against sin and also reveals the truth of Scripture to us (John 14:26). As we grow in holiness and are taught God’s Word through faithful study and the Spirit’s help, we will grow in our comprehension and delight in His Word.
 

Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Sin
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Sin
Our sin separates us from God and blinds us to spiritual reality–making reading and understanding the Bible more difficult. When we come to Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit who helps us in our fight against sin and also reveals the truth of Scripture to us (John 14:26).
Digital artwork by Anthony Guebels, posted by Steven on 21 July 2013
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2_hopuFv2NbS4W4QZcamm0aqWMpzP2eVzriNqJ4TN4bYQliY13vhl-qmCPdErp0ZOAdwCDsyO0dhbrmZdEVAzew6LM8S0O8epiXoIPiPzdAWOtBw4EDzs7AYvS1k4AS_dat6BryDSt4/s1600/1719de1c5a7a0d223303e5bf616111a3.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/17/19/de/1719de1c5a7a0d223303e5bf616111a3.jpg
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/580401470719423152/


6. Not knowing how the Bible storyline fits together
If a new Christian reads the book of Genesis, they may ask themselves, “Why should I care about a promise God made to Abraham thousands of years ago?” The reason is because God’s promise applies to us today in Jesus Christ. Understanding the Bible’s storyline and its great themes (often called the discipline of biblical theology) allow you to trace the development of themes across the timeline of Bible history and understand how each part of the Bible ultimately has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
 

Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Not knowing how the Bible storyline fits together
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Not knowing how the Bible storyline fits together
Understanding the Bible’s storyline and its great themes (often called the discipline of biblical theology) allow you to trace the development of themes across the timeline of Bible history and understand how each part of the Bible ultimately has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Picture posted by giphy.com - The Secrets by Mikeila Borgia
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsXdVPkW6HqfL_Ua4gY6_djvxSCyidUwcwTUYIREbzlth9fzEkOyElbzA6K7OdMQqeJjahAOqY2hpBmW8oFhO1FCx4Uubyk-ps9Q0gDL-gsXJRZOrVrs9SlNFnUmmUz4aUE_ubivuhWE/s1600/b98a1ced9c34af125f31e076ccd28afb.gif
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https://www.pinterest.de/pin/760475087051962666/


7. Weak reading comprehension skills
Much of today’s communication is done through sound bites, tweets, and other forms of multimedia communication. People don’t read carefully anymore because they don’t have to, which makes reading the Bible (and other forms of literature) difficult. Learning simple techniques like looking for repeated words, asking good questions of the text, and keeping a close eye on context will empower readers to make helpful observations that will bring the meaning of Scripture to life.


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Weak reading comprehension skills
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Weak reading comprehension skills
Much of today’s communication is done through sound bites, tweets, and other forms of multimedia communication. People don’t read carefully anymore because they don’t have to, which makes reading the Bible (and other forms of literature) difficult.
Picture posted by Rosie Hardy, taken on 07 August 2014 - The Reader
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg9fBzwDv9CRfSs09DFnrZziypkas5JWXehiQj9MLMEWf_BFpVFD0Btxg4U8AWiuF-eNtoDo2_k2i4yh1-6S1kPvnwZpHiTrAmWG_gu9F4_VhAqm1Ya47yT2oVUg3TNKaf8oR-rCnShE/s1600/14858326155_8df9b1bb69_4k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/3855/14858326155_8df9b1bb69_4k.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/14858326155/


8. Not knowing how to read the genres of the Bible
You don’t read the editorial section of the newspaper the same way you read the comics or advertisements. You adapt your thinking to the type of content you are reading. The same is true with the Bible: historical narratives should be treated differently than poetry and the apocalyptic literature of the Bible should be treated differently than New Testament letters.


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Not knowing how to read the genres of the Bible
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Not knowing how to read the genres of the Bible
We adapt our thinking to the type of content you are reading. The same is true with the Bible: historical narratives should be treated differently than poetry and the apocalyptic literature of the Bible should be treated differently than New Testament letters.
Picture posted by Clinton Lofthouse Advertsing Photographer and Digital Artist
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7gb7V0DRJWYN7iogg-a5wraCJqyOBLnrL5v_O789eJ0rVL-xmfh3CfykIGDv_ZGJrQAkUUAj9dhVI7VmuUGT5KNjLESfP1roKzqBP_hc3AD-eLecQBB0W0s07GRKCkbMLhIUCeQoMd8/s1600/_DSC1518-Edit-Edi_1.png
https://electrik-staging.imgix.net/pre_production/1450/4044/_DSC1518-Edit-Edit.jpg?auto=format,compress&cs=strip
https://www.clintonlofthousephotography.com/Stills-Portraits
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-what-child-is-that.html
 

9. Not working hard at understanding the Bible
God knows that understanding the Bible takes work and prayer, but so often we want quick benefits from the Bible without putting in the necessary labour. A famous preacher once said that any true devotional reading of Scripture has to care about understanding what the text is actually saying to truly be devotional. It would be like a husband trying to show love to his wife but not trying to understand what she was saying.


Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Not working hard at understanding the Bible
PHOTO: Factor that hinder Bible reading and meditation: Not working hard at understanding the Bible
Often we want quick benefits from the Bible without putting in the necessary labour. Any true devotional reading of Scripture has to care about understanding what the text is actually saying to truly be devotional.
Picture posted by christianmingle.com - Neverending Story
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIY0XNW1RuPmOIo34y3JXQheSh8scJIMe5BuS-z8ILsx6sj-KIvWk_v5bCttgMheQJ7t8VrwdsiZ6-VczXKZnOHf8YlIcHER_sElBjcZEpxlDtSv3WarZne9blpejOxDUFwF83kbL7cI/s1600/Bible-verses_1.jpg
https://www.christianmingle.com/en/believe/living/bible-verses-for-her
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-what-child-is-that.html


In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul writes to Timothy to tell him that he is to work hard in his study, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Paul knows that a failure to work diligently at studying the Word can make people mishandle the Word and miss out on God’s approval.


How can we break down these barriers?
There is much in the Bible we can understand today if we would just pick it up and read!
 

How can we break down these barriers?
PHOTO: How can we break down these barriers?
There is much in the Bible we can understand today if we would just pick it up and read!
Photo by Nina Leen,1946  - French Actress Barbara Laage, Alone in Her Apartment Reading.
Picture posted by Redazione on 18 May 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayiQo6t4MqA3E_AhqpjtyKw2DaMk2nTW8jNMZT4cGM4g_oipnsA2hvWqdl9vUvbu4rG0aeBAjVENHkLFrL6DVFSd_FjsoxiOEaJaGsV75MtW-q8r15dff8NeDlYhYMejCRmiF0FFH-i0/s1600/salto-3-Barbara-Laage_1.png
http://outsidersweb.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/salto-3-Barbara-Laage.jpg
http://outsidersweb.it/2018/05/19/report-salone-del-libro-2018-percorsi-prospettive/salto-3-barbara-laage/


God didn’t make His Word too difficult for us to understand or write it solely for the original recipients. God’s Word is for our instruction and our encouragement as well. Romans 15:4 says,

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (emphasis added).


God didn’t make His Word too difficult for us to understand or write it solely for the original recipients.
God didn’t make His Word too difficult for us to understand or write it solely for the original recipients.
God didn’t make His Word too difficult for us to understand or write it solely for the original recipients.
PHOTO: God didn’t make His Word too difficult for us to understand or write it solely for the original recipients. God’s Word is for our instruction and our encouragement as well. Romans 15:4 says,
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (emphasis added).
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If reading the Bible is difficult for you, approach study prayerfully with a willing and humble heart. God will help you and reward your effort.

In your Bible reading, seek to encounter the Living Christ and find life in Him (John 5:39-40). God promises that His Word won’t return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). Dedicate yourself to become a person of the Word by studying it, obeying it, and treasuring it more than you treasure gold and silver (Psalm 119:72). God will reveal Himself to you in a powerful way.


If reading the Bible is difficult for you, approach study prayerfully with a willing and humble heart.
PHOTO: If reading the Bible is difficult for you, approach study prayerfully with a willing and humble heart. God will help you and reward your effort. God will reveal Himself to you in a powerful way.
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May God richly bless your study of the Scriptures!


Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that obedience a vital part of getting deeper into God's Word. A disciple of Christ is one who treasures the Word of God and reads it daily. He or she has a hunger for God's Word similar to our physical hunger for food. We shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. And those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

Please help us to read and meditate regularly on God’s enduring Word just as spelled out in God's instructions to Joshua in the Old Testament. Help us to study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night, and obey everything written in it. Then will we prosper and succeed in all we do.

Lord, we need help to overcome the factors that hinder Bible reading and meditation.

Chronology: The Bible was written between about two and three thousand years ago. Times have changed since Moses parted the Red Sea and David ruled as king over Israel. Help us to understand the historical setting of the Bible and specific book we are reading to bridge the gap between then and now. Help us to faithfully interpret it in our 21st-century context.

Culture: The biblical authors wrote to distinctive groups of people in distinctive places throughout the ancient world. Help us to know specific the cultural details and use the details to teach the lesson. For example, the woman at the well in John 4, a Jew around the time of Christ would have seen how Jesus crossed cultural taboos by talking to a Samaritan woman who was rejected even by her own people, and revealed Himself as the Messiah promised to her forefathers.

Language: The 66 books of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew (most of the Old Testament with a little Aramaic) and ancient Greek (the New Testament). The nature of languages makes direct translation sometimes difficult. The original language might have words to express something crucial to the story that a receiving language may not have. While language is not normally a major obstacle for reading a modern translation, it can be an issue when studying the original language at a deeper level. We pray for your help to overcome these translation problems.

Scripture communicates spiritual truths: Please help us to overcome our natural minds which often struggle with what we cannot see and what is not easy to understand. Thank you for helping us by illustrating many spiritual truths with everyday things we do understand like God as our Father and our need to be ‘born again.’

Sin: Our sin separates us from God and blinds us to spiritual reality–making reading and understanding the Bible more difficult. Please let us receive the Holy Spirit who helps us in our fight against sin and also reveals the truth of Scripture to us. Provide us with the Spirit’s help, so that we will grow in our comprehension and delight in His Word.

Not knowing how the Bible storyline fits together: Please help us to understand the Bible’s storyline and its great themes (often called the discipline of biblical theology) which allow us to trace the development of themes across the timeline of Bible history and understand how each part of the Bible ultimately has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Weak reading comprehension skills: We need help because today’s communication is done through sound bites, tweets, and other forms of multimedia communication. We don’t read carefully anymore because we don’t have to, which makes reading the Bible (and other forms of literature) difficult. Help us to learn simple techniques like looking for repeated words, asking good questions of the text, and keeping a close eye on context to empower us to make helpful observations that will bring the meaning of Scripture to life.

Not knowing how to read the genres of the Bible: Help us to adapt our thinking to the type of content we are reading. Like, the apocalyptic literature of the Bible should be treated differently than New Testament letters.

Not working hard at understanding the Bible: understanding the Bible takes work and prayer, but so often we want quick benefits from the Bible without putting in the necessary labour. Help us to care about understanding what the text is actually saying to truly be devotional. Help us to work hard in our study, present ourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Help us to read the Bible prayerfully with a willing and humble heart. In our Bible reading, help us to seek encounter with the Living Christ and find life in Him. Help us to dedicate ourself to become a person of the Word by studying it, obeying it, and treasuring it more than we treasure gold and silver.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Factors Affecting Reading the Bible Deeply
Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, PART II: SPIRITUAL HABITS, Chapter 10, "Reading the Bible Deeply", Question 2, Page 66.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


 



Also from the same author, Robert M. Solomon

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
Reference
[1] From "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, Copyright © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-14-1836-5, PART II: SPIRITUAL HABITS Chapter 10, "Reading the Bible Deeply", Page 61-62.

[2] Kevin Halloran, 9 Factors that Make Reading the Bible Difficult, posted on 26 May 2016, https://www.kevinhalloran.net/9-factors-that-make-reading-the-bible-difficult/

[40] Douglas Beyer, "OUR FATHER", Christians.org, 2001, http://www.christians.org/prayer/lordsprayer.htm.
(http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Zg8Gas-9osEJ:www.christians.org/prayer/lordsprayer.htm+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg)

[41] Douglas Clark, quoted in Martin Wells Knapp, Impressions (McKinney, TX: Stover Creek, 2016), 50.


New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+2%3A14&version=NIV

1 John 2:5 NLT - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A5&version=NLT

2 Peter 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A16&version=NIV

2 Timothy 2:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A15&version=NIV

Isaiah 55:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55%3A11&version=NIV

John 5:39-40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A39-40&version=NIV

John 14:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A26&version=NIV

Joshua 1:8 NLT - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A8&version=NLT

Matthew 4:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A4&version=NIV

Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV

Psalm 119:72 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A72&version=NIV

Romans 15:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A4&version=NIV

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