How My Journey in the Scriptures Began
When I became a Christian, I had never really opened a Bible before, however I knew enough to realize that if I wanted to understand my newfound faith better, reading the Bible was the key to that. And so my journey began. When I first picked up my Bible I tried to read it as a novel - cover to cover - which left me very confused. I felt that most of what I just read went way over my head. Thankfully I had a friend help me. She told me to start differently. Rather than read it as a novel, start with the gospel of John...and then next, try and find a local Bible study in the area to learn even more.
I stuck with it! And today, almost 35 years later, I faithfully read and study the Bible - and have learned so much. I realized that the Bible is a never-ending well of wisdom and learning, and because of that, I continue to search the scriptures for the "next layer, a deeper layer" of spiritual wisdom and understanding (Col 1:9). And I am never disappointed. Daily, after time spent in His Word, I still have scriptures jump off the page at me as if I have never seen them before - and His wisdom abounds in me even more. Would you like to experience that too?
A Challenging Assignment
There is so much blessing that comes to us when we move from the elemental approach to reading the Bible to actively searching the scriptures for deeper meaning. This switch happened for me about five years ago when I was introduced to Charles Swindoll's book, Searching the Scriptures.
In his book, he describes an assignment that he and his classmates were given by their professor Dr. Hendricks, while attending Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Hendricks gave the class a specific verse from the book of Acts and told them to go home, study the verse, and then record 50 observations they found - from that one verse. This is no small task! Swindoll felt, at best, that he might be able to come up with ten or 12 observations, but not 50. He sat with it for hours and then went to class the next day with his fifty observations in hand. Dr. Hendricks commended the class for completing the homework, then sent them out with more homework: to return the following day with 50 more observations from the same verse! Wow!
This sounds like an impossible assignment, but Dr. Hendricks' point is that we have an infinite text - that the Bible is unfathomable and its truths are beyond measure!
A Life-Changing Practice
After reading about this, a friend and I decided to give it a go (to a somewhat lesser extent). We have dubbed it 30 for 30. We take turns picking a scripture and then we each spend 30 minutes on it trying to come up with 30 points of observation, without the help of commentaries, dictionaries or concordances. It was challenging at first, but has since proven to be a very effective way to go deeper in the next layer of understanding Biblical text. It is also a great tool to jump start your quiet time. Over the last five years, it has proven to be one of the best ways I have found to go deeper, and partnering with someone else has also been helpful. I am able to share with another person, not only my findings but struggles too. Together, we regularly encourage the practice, actively embracing John 8:31 that says, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. This practice does that. It helps us abide and feeds us rich truth.
What About You?
Do you read scripture as part of your to-do list or is it your heart's desire to search the scripture for the next layer? The next time you want to go deeper, give this exercise a try and remember:
Start prayerfully.
Read carefully and go slowly over the verse. Pay particular attention to each word.
Make notes. What immediately comes to mind?
Think deeply. Spend time on words or phrases that speak to you. Ponder and ask the Holy Spirit for revelation.
May 30 for 30 be a new practice you can do and maybe even pass on to someone else.
Blessings,
Karen Petrik, Jeremiahs Call Ministries
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