Take and Read

“Knowledge of the Bible never comes by intuition. It can only be obtained by diligent, regular, daily, attentive, wakeful reading.”

J. C. Ryle

I saw this quote and thought immediately, “Yeah. You don’t get to know the Bible by casual, occasional glances.” And yet, I don’t think I’d be surprised by an honest assessment of Christian Bible-reading practices. I just plain don’t think it’s done to the degree necessary to actually grasp the depth and importance of the Word of God. Of course, that’s a brutally judgmental statement, and I acknowledge that certain factors can affect someone’s ability to read the Bible regularly, if at all. But overall?

Most importantly, we have to look for the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s a simple fact that most people are saved without having read the Bible. That’s the way it usually works. Seldom does someone pick up a Bible, read it, and suddenly get it. It follows too that we also have to account for much of the world’s population who don’t even have access to a Bible, along with the illiterate (to be perfectly clear though: reading the Bible is absolutely unnecessary to one’s salvation).

But that’s not any of us. I know without a doubt that if you’re reading this, you’re both literate and have access to a Bible, if at least digitally. And if that’s the case (and you’re a Christian), wouldn’t the reading of this book be the natural outgrowth of your salvation? As a means of your sanctification?

A few passages within the Bible come to mind here. First off, when James writes that a “faith without works is a dead faith.” This is often misread to mean that you have to do works to be saved. What it really means is, if you are saved, we should be able to see it in what you do. So, from the perspective of this writing, I’m saying that if you’re truly saved, you should crave [the “work” of] reading what God has to say to you. Again, it’s not absolutely necessary (e.g. the case of illiteracy), but honestly, don’t you want to know what all of this means? If you claim to have a faith in God, and yet have no desire to read his Word or grow deeper in your understanding of him, your faith is, at best, shallow, and at worst…dead (that is, nonexistent).

I’m also reminded of what Paul wrote to the Roman church, where he said that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Quite obviously, the words of Christ are captured in the Bible. The teachings of God – the preachings, sermons, and those things that bring faith to others – are all contained therein. And the ones who have no access to a Bible or can’t read are reached by those who do and can. So, even with the work of the Holy Spirit, we see that there is a place for the diligent and honest reading of the Bible by faithful Christians. We are, after all, called to make disciples, and in order to give the words of Christ that bring them to faith, we must have read them and know them.

Personally, I find more and more lately great comfort in reading the Bible. The early hours of every morning as I eat my breakfast is the one time of day I can truly count on for peace and comfort. I admit, I’m not always getting it. Sometimes my mind is drifting. Sometimes I’m just muddling through. But it always has value to me. It leads me to a deeper assurance that, despite whatever the world lobs at me (and along with my own failings), there’s something there. Something that gives me a consistent hope. And the Holy Spirit still does his work in me through it. If anything, I can only hope to be the feet that bring that good news to someone else.

So read your Bible. While there may be other things in your Christian walk that demand your attention, this is one that will ultimately pay off. And if you’re not a Christian, try it anyway. I did, and it meant nothing to me at the time – but that doesn’t mean it meant nothing at all. I know that it drew a contrast for me that to this day helps me understand those who don’t understand. And this, too, has great value.