Growth Points: Engage in the Word

The Word of God.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
-2 Timothy 3:16

I understand that many books have been written on this topic. Honestly, I could probably write a 10,000-word post about this subject. Instead, let’s look at just a few of the most important truths about reading Scripture.

I’ve read the Bible – or had the Bible read to me – for as long as I can remember. I’ve read several translations, studied the meaning of words, and heard dozens of messages preached on the Book. All that said, in the general scheme of things, I know so little about the Bible. In fact, only God knows everything about His Word. Which is why I’m always trying to learn.

So, I’m going to stick with the truths that I do know. One of them is found in Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV):

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

God’s Word has the power to change our lives. Reading Scripture should change your life (it has for me). But it can only make a difference if we believe it can. The reason the so-called “miracle pills” and “cure-alls” that dotted the 19th century seemed to work was because people thought they would. If you believe something will work, you can almost convince yourself that it will. In a similar, yet different, way – because the Bible isn’t fake – we can only fully embrace God’s Word if we truly believe that it can and will change our lives.

Today’s growth point is…

I’m currently going through the Bible in a Year, and it’s incredible. When you go through the Scriptures in that amount of time, it allows you to both focus on what you’re reading and it helps you see the big picture.

Yet notice that I didn’t say Read the Word. I specifically said Engage in the Word. I don’t want us to read the Bible in the same way we read any other book. It’s easy to read something; it takes effort to engage. The Bible is meant to be studied, reflected upon, and prayed over. I’m reading Sherlock Holmes this week for school, so allow me to throw in a quote from the legendary detective: “You see, but you do not observe.”

The solution I’ve found to this problem is simple, and it comes straight from…you guessed it: the Bible.

In His Words…

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus rebukes the devil by saying…

“The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

I love that Jesus’ response to Satan is quoting Scripture. It shows that He isn’t relying on His own strength (even though He’s God), but on the strength of God’s Word. I regularly find myself trying to answer a question or solve a problem using my knowledge; instead, I should be asking God and consulting the Bible.

Jesus said that we live on “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As the verse at the top of today’s post makes clear, all of Scripture is God’s Word. Which means I should be reading the Gospels, Epistles, and Psalms…but also Leviticus.

I know, I know. Leviticus?! Here’s the reality: we can only fully engage with God’s Word when we know all of His Word. If we don’t skip chapters when reading other books, why should we skip chapters of the Bible? Even if they may not apply to us right now, we can’t afford to miss that context. God also speaks to us from all of Scripture, not just Psalm 23 or Romans 8. I understand there is a place for these passages, but to gain a deeper understanding of Scripture, we must move beyond solely the “popular” sections.

Engaging in God’s Word begins by believing, then by studying every Word.

Room to Grow.

Because of the sheer volume of information out there on what you should or shouldn’t do when reading the Bible, I’ll zone in on what I believe are critical truths. If you disagree with me, that’s okay. I just hope we agree that the Bible should be read prayerfully and persistently.

I want to share three things that I believe the Bible is, and three things I believe the Bible is not.

The Bible is…

1. God’s Word (John 1:1)

The Bible was written by human authors, but it contains the divine words of God. There may be mistakes in the translations or human interpretations, but not in God Himself. We must believe this if we’re to let the Bible change us.

While reading Scripture, we should also ask ourselves what we’re learning about God. What is God’s heart? What is He for and what is He against? How does He want me to respond?

2. Real (Psalm 19:7)

I don’t believe the Bible is a book of analogies or stories. There are parts I don’t understand, but I believe Scripture contains real accounts of real people experiencing real things. It isn’t Lord of the Rings. Unless the Bible says otherwise, everything you read literally happened to someone you could meet in Heaven. (Assuming they followed God.) That’s wild.

3. Powerful (Romans 12:2)

God’s Word has changed millions of lives. It is the most valuable tool for knowing Christ and God’s will for us. As a result, it should be studied continually (Joshua 1:8-9). Every day, if possible. Through the Bible in a Year, Scripture has transformed my walk with God, and it can transform yours!

Reading Scripture just four days a week is proven to lower anxiety, help with managing finances, reduce angry outbursts, and more. You can read about the Rule of 4 study by clicking this link: A Key to Spiritual Growth.

The Bible is more than just a book. It’s His book. Unfortunately, humans are prone to twist God’s Word to their own ends. As such, I must address the next three topics.

The Bible is not…

1. A Fortune Cookie (Psalm 1:2)

Please know that I’m not condemning anyone for doing this, but the Bible is not meant to be flipped open to a random point and then read. I understand that God can speak in this way, but it’s not His intention. God’s will is that we study Scripture, not skim it.

The real danger is that the Bible reflects our desires. So, if we open Scripture hoping to find a verse to smite our enemies, there’s a good chance we’ll “find” one, even if God’s will is that we love our enemies. To insert another Sherlock Holmes quote, “One begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” To adapt that for Scripture: “One begins to twist Scripture to suit their beliefs, instead of their beliefs to suit Scripture.” That one rings home for me.

2. A Tool for Our Desires (James 4:8)

On page 28 of Hearing God by Dallas Willard, he delivers this bombshell:

“I fear that many people seek to hear God solely as a device for securing their own safety, comfort, and righteousness.”

We should read Scripture to know God and His will for our lives, not to gain personal security or even self-focused guidance. Scripture is about knowing God, not knowing our desires. Otherwise, we’ll find the Bible dry.

3. Social Media (Deuteronomy 17:19)

I love using the YouVersion app. When wielded correctly, it is a great tool for reading and studying Scripture. As soon as you open the app, you’ll see a section called The Daily Refresh. Now don’t hear me saying this is bad; I love deep-diving into a single verse of Scripture to start my devotions.

What is bad is taking a “Daily Refresh” approach to all of Scripture. With perhaps the exception of Proverbs, the Bible isn’t created to be consumed in out-of-context snippets. The Bible is not social media, where we can scroll and jump from one verse to the next. That’s how you end up with twisted theology. I’m not exaggerating when I say that almost every doctrinal issue in Christianity stems from grabbing a few verses and ignoring the overarching heart of God’s message.

To clarify: I’m not against reading a verse or two here and there. Just make sure you’re also reading Scripture as it’s meant to be read: in its entirety. God’s Word is not a collection of grab-and-go wise sayings and encouraging pick-me-ups (sorry Jeremiah 29:11 fans); it’s a comprehensive guide about His people, knowing truth, and living in this dark world.

God’s Word is truth. Knowing this, we should prayerfully study it continually. We shouldn’t just read the Bible; we should engage with the entirety of it. We do this by realizing that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word, that everything in it really happened, and that it has the indescribable power to change ourselves and our world.

So please read and study God’s Word! And if you aren’t reading Scripture, you won’t regret picking up a Bible. It will change all of us (as the Power of 4 study proves). Read it with open eyes and a humble heart as you seek to know Him and His will. God loves you, and you’ll immediately see that by reading His Word. It’s just that powerful.

As John 8:32 says,

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”