When my grandson was much younger, and we happened to be at the beach, he loved to collect odd-shaped stones; pieces of wood; and other bits and pieces. They were, he would inform me, "treasure". Well, at about three years of age, that was understandable. However, if we want real treasure, with a real financial value, we usually have to dig for it. As the old proverb puts it: "There's no gain without pain."!
The same is true if we want to gain from the written Word of God. Profitable Bible reading, and study, involves more than just randomly opening a chapter and reading what's there. Many years ago, I was given these seven guidelines to help us make the most of our reading, and study, of the Bible:
1. Set aside a regular time. If you fail to schedule it, you'll neglect it. If, for whatever reason, you are obliged to miss that time, then be sure to read at some other point in the same day!
2. Before you commence reading, prayerfully ask Father God to guide you in your reading, through God the Holy Spirit.
3. Think carefully about what it is you are reading. Not all of the Bible's treasures are lying, like those beach pebbles, on the surface. To get at gold, and diamonds, we have to dig!
4. Try to understand what the human author was saying to his contemporary readers, before deciding how to apply the words to your own situation. (This is where a good commentary may be particularly useful!).
5. Write down at least one truth, or principle, that you can out into practice. You may do this in a separate notebook, or in the margin of your Bible (especially if you have a "wide-margin" Bible).
6. Use different translations of the Bible. If you find that you are just 'skimming' over a well-known passage, read it in a different version. This may help to focus your mind on the passage in a new way.
7. Don't get discouraged! Some parts of the Bible are more immediately interesting than others - e.g. the history and narrative sections are more easily read than the genealogies, and the sacrificial laws. Some parts you may not immediately understand. However, there is enough that you will be able to understand - and it will revolutionise your life as you apply it.
Just one final thought of my own! During my time as a Chaplain to the former Strathclyde Police Force, I picked up a lot about police procedures! In any police investigation, the evidence is seldom going to be sitting there, screaming to be picked up! Officers expect to have to dig, and delve; to ask questions; to sift through evidence - and on more than one occasion! Those are good principles to add to the above!
In my own personal devotions, I am currently reading in the Book of Proverbs. May I suggest that you read Proverbs 2:1-9, keeping the above principles in mind? Then, to morrow, start at the beginning of Mark's account of the Gospel. You will begin to discover the treasures of the Bible!
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