5.3 What is the Best Way to Read the Bible?

When I was growing up, I discovered something that changed my life. Girls like guys who can play the guitar, and when I figured this out, I ran to my mom and begged her to buy me one. Although she bought me the cheapest one, I set my mind to it, and would you believe it, it actually worked. But then disaster struck, a few years ago, I woke up with this really bad swelling in my left hand and the doctor said, 'it's a very unusual presentation' which is doctor speak for 'I don't know what that is' but he said that it could be arthritis and with that my whole world came crashing down. I had to face the idea that I might not be able to play the guitar anymore. Now, I know it may seem like I'm overreacting but playing the guitar had become so much of my life, my identity, my origin story. It was in this state of mind that the Bible spoke directly to me, there's a parable that Jesus told about two builders one wise, one not so wise. Now, when the not so wise builder goes out to build his house, he wants epic ocean views so he builds it right there on the sand. Now, when the wise builder goes out he looks for a solid rock, a firm foundation. Now, Jesus said that a storm came with wind and waves that blew and beat against the house. And in the morning the wise builder's house stood firm but the not so wise man's house lay in ruins. Jesus said that 'those who hear his word and live by it are like the wise man who built his house on a rock'. By this time in my life, I've been following Jesus for many years and I was seeking to make him my number one. Yet, this event showed just how much of the foundation of my life was built on my ability to make music. I'd forgotten all the lessons that God had taught me about my true identity. I read the Bible, I knew the words, but I didn't allow it to truly sink in and transform me. Now, Jesus doesn't say don't build houses, he says get the foundation right first and I'm not saying don't have dreams or passions, playing guitar is still one of my favorite things to do. My point is that the foundation of our lives can be built on the word of God and the truth that God speaks into our lives. God desires to connect and communicate with you and one of the ways he does this is through the words in the Bible. And the best place to start is the new testament which starts with the story of Jesus' life. Now, there's four biographies which are known as the Gospels and the shortest one of these is the Gospel of Mark. If you read this Gospel, you'll get the impression that the author was in a hurry to tell the good news about Jesus. One way to read the Bible is to take small chunks at a time. Each book of the Bible is broken down into chapters and verses. My favorite time of the day to do my Bible reading is early in the morning just before the day begins. I usually take a piece of scripture, read it three times, and ask God to speak to me. The first time I ask the question, 'What does it say?' I try to get the grips with what's happening in the story. The second time reading the scripture a good question to ask is, 'What does it mean?' Now, this is a bit trickier because you're trying to find out what the original author is trying to say to the audience of that time, and so you may need to do a little bit of research or ask smarter friends or maybe some wiser older people but it's always worth the effort. But then thirdly it's good to ask the question, 'What is God trying to say to me or to my friends or my community?' And this can be the hardest part because maybe there's something you need to change or need to alter but also it's exciting because maybe God wants to inspire you to start something. And this is why I find reading the Bible to be so exciting because I believe that these words are living and active and every time I go to read it, I believe God has something to say to me.