With the start of January, it seems like everyone is picking up a new Bible reading plan or resolution for daily devotional habits. I’m one of you. Last week I started an intense plan to read through the Bible in 6 months.
But along with our Bible reading resolutions, I see people picking up a few misconceptions and straight out lies about reading the Word of God.
These lies are deadly; they kill our motivation and enjoyment of God’s word. I want you get through the Bible. I want you to love the word of God. So today we’re looking at 4 of these common myths and the truth the debunks them.
You’ll probably recognize these but might not realize you’ve actually bought into them. So pay attention and check your heart to see if you are opening your Bible while believing these lies.
Ready? Here we go.
Myth #1.
We read the Bible to figure out who we are, what God wants us to do, and what life is about.
TRUTH. We should read the Bible to figure out who God is, what God has done and will do, and how all of creation is about God.
Yes the Bible answers questions about our identity and purpose. It includes laws and principles for how we should live. It gives us a history of mankind and a glimpse into the end of the universe. But ultimately the Bible is a book about God – not me.
As you dig into the Bible this year, start looking for what each chapter tells you about God, His character, work, and plans. This way of reading the Bible causes everything to make so much more sense. It might even become exciting and you might find yourself devouring pages on end. So be forewarned.
Myth #2.
Reading the Bible every day makes God happy and me a good christian.
TRUTH. Reading the Bible consistently helps you get to know God.
Christ has made you fully perfect and acceptable to God by His work on the cross. No Bible reading required.
God loves and delights in you because you have been purchased with the blood of His Son. A 365 day Bible reading streak isn’t going to make God any more happy with you.
Reading the Bible is important – I’d even say absolutely necessary – to our relationship with God and our Christian life. But not because reading ink on paper earns us points with God.
Remember truth #1? We read the Bible to learn who God is. Reading the Bible consistently helps you get to know God. And knowing God changes your life.
Also, notice that I didn’t say “reading the Bible every day helps you get to know God.” I said reading it consistently.
Consistently means regularly. God doesn’t shame you when you miss a day. But regularly does imply often. It could even mean reading multiple times a day. Why do we limit ourselves to ingesting the Bible only once a day? Why not read in the morning and before bed. On lunch break and in-between classes.
Reading the Bible consistently is going to look different for different people and in different seasons. But consistency is consistently going to mean regular and often.
Myth #3.
Bible reading success is checking today’s date off my reading plan.
TRUTH. Bible reading success is making progress in my relationship with Jesus.
Reading the Bible is about getting to know God and developing a relationship with Jesus. Reading the Bible is not about getting through your plan in a year, or checking off today’s date.
One day this might mean being obedient to the Spirit of God and reading your Bible even though you don’t feel like it, even though it’s boring, even though you’re falling asleep and can’t remember what you read 5 seconds ago.
Another day that might mean stopping to think, pray, and rejoice over one verse and never making it to the end of the chapter.
The next day, it might mean jumping out of bed excited to spend time with Christ and reading two days worth of chapters in one.
And one day it might mean genuinely repenting at midnight because you neglected your Bible.
Can you see how transforming our why transforms how we view success? If success is about crossing off today’s date on your plan and you fail to do that, then you failed at Bible reading.
But if success is making progress in your relationship with Jesus, then genuinely repenting when you neglect your Bible is success.
Myth #4.
I need to “get something” out of my time in God’s word every day.
TRUTH. Every minute invested into God’s word is profitable.
I am a huge fan of seeking to understand what we read in the Bible. I love going beyond basic meaning to find implications. I write and teach Bible studies and one of my favourite parts is answering the question “how does the Bible change our lives today?”
But I do not believe that every time you open your Bible you need to “get something” out of it. I don’t think that you need to find an inspiring verse every day to write in your journal. Or that you need to find an application point for your reading to be “worth it.”
This is another lie that goes back to how you define success in reading the Bible. Just like success isn’t about checking off a box, it’s also not about filling up a journal page. Success is making progress in your relationship with Jesus.
If success is getting encouragement or application out of your time in the word, then when you just can’t find anything in the book of Leviticus, you failed at Bible reading.
But if success is making progress in your relationship with Jesus, then picking up your Bible and reading, because the Spirit of God is asking you to, even when you don’t want to, even if it feels dry, even if you get zippo out of it for weeks, is still success.
On an even deeper level, reading the Bible comes with a promise. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is. 55:11)
When you read the Bible, you read the word of God. Even if it feels like you got nothing out of it, God has promised that His word will accomplish it’s purpose in your life every single time.
I’ve been reading the Bible since I could sound out words. And honestly, I don’t remember ever getting anything out of it when I was 7 and 8 years old. I do remember finding even the “interesting stories” dry and hard to get through.
But I am so grateful I read them. Because now they are in my heart and mind. I can make connections that I couldn’t if I didn’t know the basic structure of the Bible. I remember verses I read when I was 8 that help me get through tough things and guide me in making wise decisions.
It’s worth it to obey. It’s worth it to get God’s words into your mind. It’s worth it to develop a habit.
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So this year pick up your Bible. Download a reading plan. Cross off chapters and verses and days and months. Journal your heart out. Read regularly and read often.
Reading the Bible consistently helps you get to know God. And knowing God changes your life. May this be the year our lives are changed through the reading of our Bible.
I have also decided to read through the Bible in six months. I can see I’m inclined to view success as checking off each day rather than how I potatoes in my relationship with Jesus. I love being consistent, reading on the morning and evening or listening to audio Bible during the day. Some of my other resolutions/goals include doing something special for each of my siblings birthdays (there are ten of them), writing to more girls, spending less time in front of a screen, learning better time and money management skills, consistently cooking once a week, and growing closer to Jesus in prayer (remembering quality is better than quantity.)
It sounds like you have some fantastic goals Rachel! Thanks for sharing them. 🙂 And praying that you will grow so much during these 6 months of reading the Bible!