What’s the longest book (or book series) you’ve ever read? Did you read through all the Harry Potter books, Lord of the Rings, or Chronicles of Narnia? Have you ever tackled a Russian classic – maybe even War and Peace? As I sit in my office this morning, I’m struck by how many books on these shelves I’ve read – and these are just a sampling of my favorites. Many of these books are quite long, yet I loved reading them all.
So, what holds us back from reading the Bible? It’s no longer than these other books. The Harry Potter series adds up to almost 1.1 million words. The Lord of the Rings, plus The Hobbit, comes in at 550,000. The Twilight series is almost 600,000. War and Peace alone is 561,000 words.
How many of these have you read and not thought twice about the length? Well, the Bible ranks in at 727,000 words – somewhere between Twilight and Harry Potter in length.
Why do we so often hesitate to pick up the Bible and read it?
The length was often a stumbling block for me, maybe most of all because the words can be hard to read – especially in some older translations. The Bible felt unapproachable; that is until I actually opened it and started reading.
We’ve been talking about the 3 keys to a better change that Peter learned by following Jesus. Knowing Jesus is one of those. Peter lived and walked with Jesus while he was here on earth, so Peter knew Jesus intimately. We may not have that same opportunity to walk beside the living Jesus, but we can get to know Jesus in a real and personal way through scripture.
Reading and studying the Bible is a critical component to A Better Change.
We saw how Jesus was able to heal Peter’s mother-in-law because he was there in the house. Peter KNEW Jesus; in fact, he knew him so well he invited him over for dinner. What if we also knew Jesus so well that he was a regular house guest? So well that Jesus was right by your side when you need him the most?
Getting to know scripture is one way we develop that relationship.
- Walk beside Jesus through the Gospels.
- Learn the mighty power of God throughout the Bible.
- See how the Holy Spirit provides counsel and equipping through Acts and the growth of the early church throughout the New Testament.
The more I read the Bible, the more my relationship with God deepens. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, a little more is revealed to me each time I read a passage. When those dots started to connect for me and I began to see how the books relate and how God’s story is woven throughout all the pages, I realized this was indeed a book I had to read. And not only read, but reread and study!
[callout]For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)[/callout]
Whether you’re new to reading the Bible or an old pro, I encourage you to open those pages and keep reading!
Getting on a first-name basis with God and committing His story to your heart is the first step toward A Better Change!
For some great resources and ideas to help you get started or go deeper, check out 18 Resources for Digging Into the Bible and 6 Ways To Use Technology for Bible Study.
[reminder preface=”Question: “]What describes the relationship you have with your ‘go-to’ person? How could you cultivate that same type of relationship with God so He becomes your ‘go-to’?[/reminder]
[callout]This post is part of the “A Better Change” series. For more information on this series and to find related posts, click here: A Better Change Series – Overview[/callout]
Sharing with: #GiveMeGrace, Sunday Share, Motivation Monday, Testimony Tuesday, Make a Difference Mondays
What Keeps You From Reading the Bible? – Prayer & Possibilities
What’s the longest book (or book series) you’ve ever read? Did you read through all the Harry Potter books, Lord of the Rings, or Chronicles of Narnia? Have you ever tackled a Russian classic – maybe even War and Peace? As I sit in my office this morning, I’m struck by how many books on these shelves I’ve read – and these are just a sampling of my favorites. Many of these books are quite long, yet I loved reading them all.
So, what holds us back from reading the Bible? It’s no longer than these other books. The Harry Potter series adds up to almost 1.1 million words. The Lord of the Rings, plus The Hobbit, comes in at 550,000. The Twilight series is almost 600,000. War and Peace alone is 561,000 words.
How many of these have you read and not thought twice about the length? Well, the Bible ranks in at 727,000 words – somewhere between Twilight and Harry Potter in length.
Why do we so often hesitate to pick up the Bible and read it?
The length was often a stumbling block for me, maybe most of all because the words can be hard to read – especially in some older translations. The Bible felt unapproachable; that is until I actually opened it and started reading.
We’ve been talking about the 3 keys to a better change that Peter learned by following Jesus. Knowing Jesus is one of those. Peter lived and walked with Jesus while he was here on earth, so Peter knew Jesus intimately. We may not have that same opportunity to walk beside the living Jesus, but we can get to know Jesus in a real and personal way through scripture.
Reading and studying the Bible is a critical component to A Better Change.
We saw how Jesus was able to heal Peter’s mother-in-law because he was there in the house. Peter KNEW Jesus; in fact, he knew him so well he invited him over for dinner. What if we also knew Jesus so well that he was a regular house guest? So well that Jesus was right by your side when you need him the most?
Getting to know scripture is one way we develop that relationship.
The more I read the Bible, the more my relationship with God deepens. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, a little more is revealed to me each time I read a passage. When those dots started to connect for me and I began to see how the books relate and how God’s story is woven throughout all the pages, I realized this was indeed a book I had to read. And not only read, but reread and study!
[callout]For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)[/callout]
Whether you’re new to reading the Bible or an old pro, I encourage you to open those pages and keep reading!
Getting on a first-name basis with God and committing His story to your heart is the first step toward A Better Change!
For some great resources and ideas to help you get started or go deeper, check out 18 Resources for Digging Into the Bible and 6 Ways To Use Technology for Bible Study.
[reminder preface=”Question: “]What describes the relationship you have with your ‘go-to’ person? How could you cultivate that same type of relationship with God so He becomes your ‘go-to’?[/reminder]
[callout]This post is part of the “A Better Change” series. For more information on this series and to find related posts, click here: A Better Change Series – Overview[/callout]
Sharing with: #GiveMeGrace, Sunday Share, Motivation Monday, Testimony Tuesday, Make a Difference Mondays