One of the bits of feedback I love to hear after a Sunday service is when someone says: “I really experienced God speaking to me this morning. It was as if you said that bit in the sermon with me in mind.” Well, rarely have I had that particular person in mind when I was preparing. But something amazing happens when we read the Bible and hear it taught and preached. God takes his words in the Bible and through fallible and mortal human words and minds he speaks to us.
It’s fantastic when that happens on Sundays and it’s just as great when it happens through the week when Christians read the Bible for themselves. The words of the Bible are so easy for us to have to hand - we literally have them in our pockets, brief-cases, handbags, man-bags and over-the shoulder bags.
God promises that when we read the scriptures, it’ll benefit us and bring us closer to him and remind us of our true identity and purpose. Do you ever have trouble knowing how to approach the Bible to get anything out of it?
Here’s a very helpful article from the Gospel Coalition website that gives a clear and simple outline of how to approach reading the Bible on your own. It’s not to be followed as a rigid set of rules but gives great practical advice on Bible reading. It’s well worth ten minutes of your time. Why not even save to favourites or hit print on it and take it around with you until you’ve absorbed its advice?
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-study-bible/