Reading The Word | Christian Disciplines #3

Turn to Psalm 19 (Read Psalm 19:7-14).

A few weeks ago we began a study on the Christian disciplines. In 1 Timothy, Paul wrote that we should exercise unto godliness. Godliness is produced in us by God, but He produces it in us in response to our effort. Spiritual exercise.

And the first spiritual exercise or Christian Discipline we looked at was Hearing the Word. It takes effort and deliberate practice to hear God’s Word in a profitable way.

This week, we are going to look at the Christian practice of Reading God Word. Hearing is active, but reading is even more active.

Studies show that while about 70% of Americans claim to be Christian, only 11% of Americans have read the whole Bible. That’s concerning, especially if you’ve been saved for any length of time.

What is just as telling are statistics on biblical literacy:

Less than half of adults can name the four Gospels.

12% of adults believe Joan of Ark was Noah’s wife.

Over 50% of high school seniors thought Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

60% of Americans cannot name even five of the Ten Commandments.

According to 82% of Americans, “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.

What is even worse 81% of those identified as born again believers thought the same thing.

One person summarized it like this: “Americans treat reading the Bible a little bit like exercise. They know it’s important and helpful but they don’t do it.”

I would submit to you that Reading the Scriptures is the foundational activity of the Christian life.

We know God by His Word. He transforms us through His Word. We can only obey and know what to do by His Word. We resist temptation to sin by recalling His Word.

Last time we saw how Jesus said, “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” How can we live by every word if we do not read the words that have come from God?

2 Timothy 3:16 is a key verse to understanding the impact God’s Word has on us. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” then don’t you think the doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction we receive as Christians will be in part determined by how much we read the Bible?

2 Timothy 3:17 says “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Our maturity as believers is dependent on us taking in and knowing and applying God’s Word.

Today we are going to do two things:

Look at why we ought to read the Bible

And how to read the Bible well

Why You Ought to Read the Word

We could make a long list of reasons why believers ought to have personal Bible reading, but two texts and two thoughts from them ought to close the case.

Reason #1: Because of what reading the Word does to you

Look back at our text in Psalm 19. The Psalm describes what Christians call God’s two books: the world and the Word.

The world is the physical creation, what God has made around us. And the Word what God has breathed out in the form of the holy Scriptures. The second half of Psalm 19 is about Scripture.

And the main thrust of this Psalms is how God’s Word “transforms the lives of those who read it.”

David begins by saying it converts the soul. Convert means to turn around. The Word changes us at the center of who we are. Not just physically, but spiritually.

How does it do this? In what ways does it transform us? David provides a list:

The Word of God helps us live in the world by “making wise the simple.”

It brings joy in the place of emptiness by “rejoicing the heart.”

It helps us think clearly and illuminates our minds by “enlightening the eyes.”

He follows this by saying that the truths of Scripture are eternal (verse 9).

So the Word, which is permanent, gives us wisdom for living, joy in our hearts, and illumination for our minds.

So then how does the Psalmist view the Word?

In verse 10 he follows all of this up by saying how he values it. We should desire it like sweet food.

Verses 11-14 he shows what it looks like to live valuing God’s Word:

By living a life that pleases the Lord. (vs. 11)

By knowing what is sin and being clean. (vs. 12-13)

By keeping our thoughts and words right in God’s eyes. (vs. 14)

To value the Bible leads us to internalize, which helps us to live for the pleasure of God.

The Psalmist’s view of Scripture fleshed out in this song is different from how a lot of people see the Bible today. Sometimes we view the Word of God as a tool to mechanically get answers out of an distant God. When we see it like this, we will only get into it when we feel like we need it to get something out of God.

Joel B. Green warns of this approach: “It is easy to turn time with Scripture into a game of ‘Twenty Questions’: how to have a happy relationship, learn financial faithfulness, or whatever. A sharp line can be drawn between utilitarian approaches that treat the Bible as a how-to manual or a database for addressing my questions, and the formation of Scripture-shaped minds that understand God and God’s creation through Scripture-shaped lenses. The latter requires patient, deliberate reading—reading, as it were, for no good reason but for the sake of having our dispositions and reflexes shaped by Scripture.”

We are to read Scripture: not to get what we want out of God, but so God can make new people out of us.

Why You Ought to Read the Word

Reason #1: Because of what reading the Word does to us

Reason #2: Because of what happens when we fail to read the Word

Reading Scripture shapes us into what God intends for us to be, but neglecting Scripture does the opposite: it leads to wrong thoughts about God and wrong ways of living.

Think about how much Jesus attributed to his listener’s failure to carefully read the Bible.

He often began a rebuke with the words “Have ye not read..?” With these statements, Jesus revealed that his listeners had wrong ideas and response to the truth about the point of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:3, 5), marriage (Matthew 19:4), and God’s attitude toward children (Matthew 21:16).

Time and time again, the people in Jesus’ day could not understand what Christ was doing, and He attributed this often to one reason: they hadn’t taken Scripture reading seriously.

Reading the Bible leads to our transformation toward godliness. Failing to read the Bible leads to wrong ideas about God and, ultimately, wrong actions.

We read Scripture so God can transform us into what we’re supposed to be. When we don’t read Scripture, in our minds, it transforms God into what He shouldn’t be.

How You Can Read the Word Well

We should read the Word. We need to know this, but it will not help us if we don’t put something into place in our lives. Here are some pointers on how to read the Bible well:

Read toward the beginning of your day. It is no sin to read the Bible at night. Some have a work schedule that makes reading at night the only good option. But if you have the choice between the two, and the only reason you haven’t read Scripture in the morning is laziness, you should read it in the morning.

For one, you will retain less of anything you read right before going to bed.

Also, you need Scripture during the day! We don’t face temptations to sin after we fall asleep. We don’t need to apply biblical wisdom to our decisions after we fall asleep. We don’t need courage to share the gospel after we fall asleep.

So think about reading to gain strength for the day just like you ought to eat early in the day rather than right before bed.

Start a reading plan. If you have never read the Bible, start with a simple reading plan.

It only takes around 72 hours to read the entire Bible. People can finish it in three years just reading it a few minutes a day.

So start small. If you have been reading for a while, but want some more breadth, my kids enjoy the One Year Bible plan (Some OT, some NT, Psalm, Proverbs). I’ve read it chronologically, which is interesting. Bible Reading Plans are easy to find. Pick one and follow it.

Don’t quit because you miss. Some Christians give upon on Bible reading after missing a day in the streak. There is no reason to do this! You are not a spiritual failure because you miss a day. Missing a week is a poor reason to think you should stop reading God’s Word. You don’t stop eating just because you missed a meal.

If you struggle with commitment, find someone to whom you can be accountable. If you need someone to support you, ask a Christian you trust to text or call you regularly to keep you accountable. Godly Christians won’t mind spending a few seconds of their time encouraging someone to read God’s Word!

Don’t get stuck on questions. There is a time for reading and a time for studying. Don’t be frustrated if during your reading time you encounter something you don’t understand. Keep reading for now and study it later. It’s ok to not know what everything means: that’s why reading the Bible is not a one-time event, it is a lifetime of discipline.

Idea: Write down questions you have to go back later and study out. That way you can move forward with your plan.

Conclusion

We need Bible intake. And one of the ways we get it is by reading the Word.

Application:

If your spiritual health is in part based on your Bible reading habits, how healthy are you?

What is one thing you can do to alter your Bible reading to improve it?

Do the justifications you have made for not regularly reading God’s Word stand up to the claims in Psalm 19?