Statistics are mixed on how many churchgoers or how many Christians read the Bible. But as I was beginning to search for stats, it occurred to me that what other people do doesn’t matter much. And even my own report on how frequently I read the Bible is of no great value.
At our church, we have just started a series about reading the Bible. And, though I have been taught similar approaches in the past, I was ready for this fresh reminder. Just “reading the Bible” is not as effective as reading with a specific plan. My past experience with reading with a plan involves a notebook and pencil, several Bible translations, and a Bible dictionary. I love to study the Bible that way—looking up words, breaking the verses down to understand the meaning.
Somewhere along the way, I got this idea that it was not a good idea to “read the Bible” that way. Why, it just takes too much time, I reasoned. And I would even say to others, “When I try to keep up with devotions, or quiet time, I just get so carried away, because I like to study and look things up,” as if it were a bad thing. So I reasoned myself straight out of a regular quiet time.
Quiet time—in whatever form it takes, because I really am allowed to do it in any manner I choose—will be a goal for me for 2013
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