Finally! I've gotten around to making this post. :)
Now, what has struck me is that the Bible really is the best way to get to know God. What has also been driven home, is that reading the Bible is not just an intellectual endeavor. God speaks to us through His word, sometimes very powerfully. For example, a couple of weeks ago now, I was feeling very down one evening because I had a bunch of schoolwork to go over and send in, and of course my college application, and all that sort of thing that clearly wasn't going to get done that night. So feeling as sad as I was, I thought I'd go read my Bible some and talk to God about it. For a passage to read, I decided on the book of James. I'd been looking up all the references to the word "serpent" earlier I believe, and for some reason James stood out in my mind. So I flipped open to it, and editorial header for the first chapter is, "Trials and Temptations," or "Profiting from Trials." Anyway, I read through it, and it was wonderfully helpful. God came through for me when I needed Him. A similar thing happened with Psalm 28. I was once again feeling rather down, and I thought I'd read a Psalm, so I opened up to Psalm 28, which is a Psalm of crying out to God for help, with an interlude for call destruction upon the wicked, and praising God because he's heard the Psalmist's plea. So that was also very helpful to me, especially since I could directly pray it as written, or at least the first part.
Now, part of the reason I am mentioning this is to point out that I have discovered that aside from being intellectual, reading the Bible can be quite experiential. I think it is easy to assume that it is not, and until recently, I think I more or less fell into that category. Also, I believe I recall hearing that it has happened among some of the "extreme" (for lack of a better word) charismatic groups, reading and studying the Bible has been downplayed in favor of some sort of spiritual experience. Beyond the dangers of seeking spiritual experience without proper guidance from the Bible, the idea that the Bible isn't an experience, I have realized, is rather silly. What could possibly be better than to hear the very words of God himself? Also, rather than coming across as abstract emotions and feelings of possibly dubious origin, when one reads the Bible, one may hear the voice of God speaking of things specifically talking of certain things, and precisely dealing with problems (like he did for me), or giving words of praise, or faith, or instruction (for an example, please read 1 Corinthians 13, one of my favorite chapters in the Bible), or whatever.
So anyway, that is my spiel on reading one's Bible. And don't take my example on how often to do it either. :P Despite all this revelation regarding it, I have a hard time not letting other things crowd out my Bible reading time. So I would love it if 1) you all are more responsible than I am now and read your Bibles every day, and 2) if I became more responsible than I am now and read my Bible every day. lol
The Owner, Heirron
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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2 comments:
Yay! :) I've been waiting for this one. These posts are very encouraging. Especially because you haven't said anything incorrect. =D lol I have a similar problem, just on the other side of things. I don't pray enough. I'll read my Bible every day, but praying is harder for me. . . It takes a lot more effort for me to talk than to listen. There's little to do about it but try to do better, eh? :)
Indeed. :) Trying one's best, and then apologizing to God is really all one can do. One interesting thing I've found is that the amount I pray, and amount I read my Bible go hand in hand. The more I read my Bible, the more I pray. I think it's because I'm thinking about it, and I have something to pray about, and I think of scriptural things more often throughout the day. Speaking of which, I need to read John 4, several times. :P
TO, Heirron
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