Enhance your Bible reading with two simple steps
When reading your Bible, you will probably come across stories you have read many times. This is especially true around Christmas or Easter, but there are many other stories like David and Goliath or Noah’s ark where we may read it again and not get anything new. When we know the story, we may check out mentally. But if the Bible is God’s love letter to us, then reading it should always be refreshing to our souls!
The Holy Spirit is speaking through the word, so how do we enhance our listening?
In order to enhance my Bible reading, I like to approach it with two fresh perspectives that you can also have right now.
#1: READ IT AS IF YOU WERE THERE
Imagine if you were one of Jesus’ disciples and it was right before he was arrested, put on trial and crucified. What would you be thinking? Imagine that when Jesus was speaking with his disciples, you were there hearing these words. Imagine him looking at you, knowing you and piercing through your defenses to get to the real you. Imagine the genuine love in his words, in his tone, and in his heart toward you.
Or imagine Goliath taunting all of Israel’s army and seeing David rise up with the righteousness and power of God to fight the giant. Imagine you were there as fear paralyzed Israel’s army, and how nobody around you was stepping up, then all of a sudden this young kid speaks up and steps out to fight the giant. Imagine that your fate is in his hands. I would sure hope he heard from God!
#2: READ IT AS IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW IT ENDS
If you were there at the last supper, then as Jesus was arrested, put on trial and crucified, what would you be thinking? How could Jesus, who was God and who taught with such authority and performed so many miracles, be arrested and killed? How would we react? Would we do the same as Peter and deny even knowing him? Would we scatter in fear? Would we even sleep for the three days not knowing that he would rise again?
When I know the end of the story, I read it with less urgency and emotion. If I was there when all this happened, then my emotions/fear/stress would be at an all-time high. If I didn’t know how it ended I would probably freak out. I honestly have no idea how I would respond. Peter didn’t know how it ended. Nobody did. That’s hard to imagine, but not knowing the end would definitely change our perspective and we would read the words of Jesus (or any of the Bible stories) with much more urgency and we would hang on to every word. Read the Bible like that!
God bless, and enjoy your Bible reading
