This week's question is this: "I'm a man attempting to be a man of God and want to start reading the Bible more to be a better man, father, husband, friend, and/or disciple of Christ. What do you recommend as a path to start learning scripture better?"
Pastor Hiner answers:
There is a prayer that is prayed in many church bodies, “Blessed Lord, you have caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
I love this prayer because it reminds me of two things. One that we don’t simply open up the good book occasionally, perhaps out of a sense of obligation, but rather that we read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the words of that book. I don’t know about you but inwardly digesting something is much more than the simple occasional reading. This Bible is a gift from God written for our benefit. It is foolish to not take advantage of this gift.
The second thing is that the Bible was written for our learning so that we may hold onto the hope we have in Jesus. It is more than a book simply for entertainment, but it is a book meant to guide our lives and give instructions to faith.
Therefore, the best answer I can come up with is this: Start! The path to start learning scripture better is starting. That is the first challenge to overcome. Two things I always mess up when exercising: the first is starting; and, the second is making it work for me. Therefore, the greatest obstacle is simply starting. If you open up your Bible and only read 3 verses before falling asleep, at least you read 3 verses you wouldn’t have if you never started. Just start somewhere. Then, like in exercising, make it work for you. If a plan helps to hold you accountable, then make up a plan or Google a plan. There are thousands of options online. If I tell myself I am going to exercise 2 hours a day six days a week. I get discouraged because I don’t make my goals. But if I simply do what works for me and do it, then I find more success. Find a plan, then start. If you get to a point that is boring and you are falling asleep too much, skip it. If you are at a part that is speaking to you, spend a week on it reading it over and over. The only way you can fail is not doing it at all.
Have a question for Pastor Hiner. Submit it to mensministry@hopelubbock.com . We will publish one question each Thursday.
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