I heard a great quote while listening to the audio book Rediscovering Holiness by J.I. Packer
Think of Jesus each time you read your bible. Think of him asking you page by page and chapter by chapter what you have just learned about the need, nature, method and fact of the grace he brings and about the path of loyal discipleship that he calls you to tread. That is the way to profit from the bible. Then when your reading of the written word feeds into your relationship with the living word Jesus does the bible operate as the channel of light and life that God means it to be.
Do you envision Jesus fellow-shipping with you as you read the bible? Do you read according to a schedule? Feel guilty when when you fall behind? You shouldn’t. It’s good to read regularly according to a schedule, to form a daily habit of reading, a daily appointment to hear the voice of God. But there will be times when you may only make it 2-3 verses and one phrase or one word will give you pause. Pause a bit. Stop and pray a bit and perhaps study that particular area a little bit deeper by reading a commentary on that verse or topic, looking up and listening to a sermon on the scriptural reference. Don’t feel pressured to keep the schedule and keep reading. Remember that bible reading is always about fellowship with God Himself. In these moments when God directs our attention, it is good to pause.
“Our reading here should not be a marathon, but a slow, deliberate soaking in of its message. Bible reading calendars are no help here. There are times when one verse or even a phrase will strangely draw us. It would be impossible to go on until that Scripture has done its work in our heart. Do not faint here. Allow that Scripture to marinate in your mind and heart as long as it feeds your soul. God is speaking, and He deserves our utmost respect and attention. Often we regiment ourselves to a daily Bible schedule and hurry on in our reading to keep up. The importance of reading the Bible is not reading, but fellowship with the Author. The proper reading of the Bible must be in the same Spirit that authored it.” – A.W. Tozer, The Purpose of Man. (pg. 180)
Often times it is Jesus himself who would have us linger behind in his word. While others rush forward to keep up with the yearly bible reading schedule there are those in the back trailing behind stopping at every rose, every sparkling word to take a deeper look. It is those who linger behind slowly examining everything they pass who can hear Jesus whisper, tarry with me. Walk with me, would you like to see more? Would you like to know more? Then take this side path with me and lets look at this truth closer. Let me show it to you. Let me unravel it for you and explain it to you. Tarry with me.
