Bible Reading 101
By Mitch Walker
So, we�ve all been there − uni readings! For me this semester, it�s history readings. A couple of weeks ago the reading was on the Mughal Empire and I loved it. I read through the reading in no time at all, but when I went to summarize it I couldn�t remember a thing!
I�m sure we all find that with some readings. You smash through it for a class, but when remembering time comes your mind is blank. Unfortunately I find this to be just the same with bible reading.
Just the other week I read through 1, 2 and 3 John in very quick succession. During this same week, while deciding which God-given book to smash down next, I flicked past John�s letters and stopped briefly to remember what I had learnt. I thought and thought and in the end the only thing I could think of was that something was wrong! How was it possible for me to have read through a book of the bible and not remember anything about it?
Well, for one I have a shocking memory − my awesome housemates can probably attest to that − but I suspected, and still suspect, that it is not a sufficient or usable excuse. Certainly not enough for me to not worry or think about changing.
This also got me thinking about how on earth I could keep learning and growing in my knowledge of (and hence dependence on) God if nothing from his graciously given, lifesaving word was sinking in or having an effect on my life − which it obviously wasn�t.
This is definitely a problem, as God commands us in James 1:22 to �not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says�. In Hebrews 4:12 reads �the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart�.
So, where to from here? All well and good to see the problem, but how to fix it. And given the vitality of reading God�s word for our Christian walk, there needs to be a solution!
There is no set way on how to read the bible, but some suggestions I found helpful were: slow down − for every minute you read, stop, think and pray about it for another minute or two; this helps what you have read to really sink in.
Journaling − mark anything that confuses you, that you love, that applies to you etc. I found this helps heaps to clarify your thoughts, to remember what you�re reading, to clear up confusions and to make looking back on your readings a whole lot easier.
Also, a couple of handy acronyms for journaling I�ve heard are: AEIOU � Ask questions about the passage, Emphasize important phrases, put the passage IN your own words, what Other verses link in and How does it apply to U?
Another is ACTS � When reading a passage what can you praise God for (Adoration). What should you confess (Confession), what can you thank God for (Thanksgiving) and what can you pray for (Supplication).
I strongly encourage you to not be lazy readers or to see bible reading as a chore. Instead, as Paul tells us in Colossians 3:16-17, �let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him�.
Put the effort into really dedicating a sufficient amount of time into your readings and reflect on what you have learnt in prayer. From there, what you�ve learnt can (with God�s help) be applied to your everyday walk with Him, to give him the glory He so rightly deserves.
Mitch 'Golden Child' Walker is a first year arts student. He comes from Grenfell and enjoys playing Frisbee.
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