Reading The Bible Meaningfully

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

Far too often God's Word is read haphazardly, even by His committed children. It is almost as if the Bible has become a good luck charm or just a document. Treating the Bible in this disrespectful and disconcerting way has not only impoverished the church, but has also resulted in spiritual shallowness in many believers. It is the direct result of disobedience and lack of discipline. The Bible is not an anthology containing interesting proverbs and speculative theological suggestions. No, it is God's Word, conveying a true message and it should be read in a disciplined, logical manner. It comes directly from God and His power emanates from it when it is fully understood. Amos R. Wells expressed it as follows:

I supposed I knew my Bible, reading piecemeal, hit and miss, Now a bit of John or Matthew, now a snatch of Genesis; certain chapters of Isaiah, certain Psalms (the twenty-third); First of Proverbs, Twelfth of Romans. Yes, I thought I knew the Word; But I found that thorough reading was a different thing to do. And the way was unfamiliar when I read my Bible through. You who like to play at Bible, dip and dabble, here and there, just before you kneel aweary, and yawn though a hurried prayer, you who treat the Crown of Writings as you treat no other book; just a paragraph disjointed, just a crude, impatient look. Try a worthier procedure, try a broad and steady view: You will kneel in awesome wonder when you read the Bible through.

Lord of the Eternal Word, please open my eyes so that I can experience the powerful ministering of the Bible. Amen.

Solly Ozrovech