In 2 Kings 22:8–20, the Temple in Jerusalem had fallen into disrepair. King Josiah orders the Temple to be renovated and repaired. While the renovations are taking place the most amazing discovery is made in a storage closet. The Book of the Law is found.
This was their Bible and it had gone missing for generations. The question needs to be asked: how did the people of God function? What guided their decision making? What served as their guide and compass in life? All this helps to explain why the Kingdom of Judah had fallen on such hard times. Without the Scriptures it stands to reason the people of God had not been living obedient and were suffering the consequences.
The Bible is NOT missing today. Many of us carry it with us wherever we go. We’ve got it as an app on our smartphones. The Bible is widely recognized as the best selling book of all time. Many of us have more than one Bible and a few of us have many more.
However, in many cases it might as well be a missing book. We may have our Bibles but we don’t know what is inside it. It has become a lost book for many. Take for example the story of Josiah. Were you familiar with this story?
Read these words:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
Pay close attention to the last part. The Scriptures are given that the man (or woman) of God may be complete. What is the implication if we are not engaged in the Scripture? It is saying we are not complete and that there is something missing.
If you are having trouble getting a grip on God’s Word, consider the five different fingers you can use to take hold of it and experience all the blessings God wants to give you:
Finger #1: Hear
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (ESV)
Try gripping your Bible with just your pinky finger. It is hard to do so. But this is the first step. This is what we do on Sunday morning when we hear the pastor preach. But there is more if we are to really get a grip on the Word.
Finger #2: Read
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy … Revelation 1:3 (ESV)
Now you grip your Bible with your pinky finger and your ring finger. You have a bit of a better grip now. There is nothing that we can do that will GROW our faith more than to learn to read the Bible for yourself. This means reading it everyday and reading it systematically. Not just reading the parts of the Bible we are already familiar with, but this is stretching ourselves to be exposed to the whole counsel of Scripture. Have a reading plan such as the philressler.com Daily Bible Reading Plan that will take you through the breadth of Scripture.
Finger #3: Study
Now these Jews (of Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11 (ESV)
Take your middle finger and now use three fingers. That grip is getting better. It is one thing to read. It is another thing to study. I was once told the difference between reading and studying is a pencil. Take notes! Write your observations. Write down the who, the what, then when, the why, and the where. Write down ways you might apply the Bible to your life.
Finger #4: Memorize
My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 7:1–3 (ESV)
Now we have a four finger grip. We are getting a good hold on the Word. Memorization is the next step. You say you are not good at memorizing. That is ok. Most people are not. It takes effort. Consider working to memorize a verse a week. Take two minutes a day. If you read over a single verse for two minutes a day for a full week, you will easily memorize that verse. Imagine now if you memorized one verse a week for a full year. That would be 52 verses you will have memorized. God’s Word is not intended to be left as words on a page. It is the living Word to be written on our hearts.
The Thumb: Meditate
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)
Finally, take your thumb. You have got the Bible in your grip. But you say “I don’t know about meditating. Isn’t meditation something Eastern religions do?” Consider if you have ever worried. What is worry? Worry is negative meditation. If you are like many people you are well practiced in this discipline. You already know how to do it. Instead of letting the negative thought turn in your mind, let the Word of God be your obsession.
Application
So here is your challenge. Determine what kind of grip you have on the Word. If you only have the first finger, consider how you might add a second by starting to read the Word. If you are reading consider how you might start studying. If you are studying, consider how you might start memorizing. If you are memorizing, consider how you might start meditating.
When we get a firm grip on the Word it become a part of us and we will naturally live it out. The reason so many of us don’t live it is because we haven’t taken hold of it. So let’s get a grip and let’s see what God does.
Jason Lennon says
I have two different bible apps and use them both each day. Without them I would, unfortunately, likely go days without reading Gods word.
I use YouVersion and I also use Daily Bible. Each morning when I get up Daily Bible has a verse in my notifications. That is a wonderful thing if the first thing you do when you get up is look at your phone.
Also in the Daily Bible app there is a devotions tab.
In that tab is audio that I listen to on the bus into work and on my way home. Music, prayers, sermons. There are 3+ years of Joel Osteen sermons that are updated every few weeks to keep them current. Billy Graham, Praying with Paul.
The reading plans for Youversion are a great resource, they also link plans up with Musical artists like Crowder and Hillsong.