Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
II Tim 2:15
1. Begin reading your Bible this very day.
The way to do a thing — is to do it; and the way to read the Bible — is
actually to read it! It is not merely meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or
intending, or thinking about it — which will advance you one step. You must
positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the
matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else
to read it to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears — the words of
Scripture must actually pass before your mind.
2. Read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it. Do
not think for a moment, that the great object is to turn over a certain
quantity of printed paper, and that it matters nothing whether you understand
it or not. Some ignorant people seem to imagine, that all is done if they
advance so many chapters every day, though they may not have a notion what they
are all about, and only know that they have pushed on their bookmark ahead so
many pages. This is turning Bible reading into a mere ritual form. Settle it
down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not understood — is a
Bible that does no good! Say to yourself often as you read, "What is this all
about?" Dig for the meaning like a man digging for gold.
3. Read the Bible with child-like faith and humility. Open
your heart — as you open God's book, and say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is
listening!" Resolve to believe implicitly whatever you find
there, however much it may run counter to your own desires and prejudices.
Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth — whether you like it or
not. Beware of that miserable habit into which some readers of the Bible fall —
they receive some doctrines because they like them; and they reject others
because they are condemning to themselves, or to some relation, or friend. At
this rate, the Bible is useless! Are we to be judges of what ought to be in
God's Word? Do we know better than God? Settle it down in your mind — that you
will receive all and believe all, and that what you cannot understand — you
will take on trust. Remember, when you pray — that you are speaking to God, and
God hears you. But, remember, when you read Scripture — that God is speaking to
you, and you are not to "dictate," but to listen!
4. Read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and self-application.
Sit down to the study of it with a daily determination that you will live by
its rules, rest on its statements, and act on its commands. Consider, as you
travel through every chapter, "How
does this affect my thinking and daily conduct? What does this teach me?"
It is poor work to read the Bible from mere curiosity, and for speculative
purposes — in order to fill your head and store your mind with mere opinions;
while you do not allow the book to influence your heart and life. That Bible is
read best — which is practiced most!
5. Read the Bible daily. Make it a part of every
day's business to read and meditate on some portion of God's Word. Private
means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls — as food and
clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday's food will not feed the laborer today;
and today's food will not feed the laborer tomorrow. Do as the Israelites did
in the wilderness. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own
seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible
the best, and not the worst part of your time! But whatever plan you pursue,
let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and God's Word every
day.
6. Read all of the Bible — and read it in an orderly way. I
fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never read at all. This
is to say at the least, a very presumptuous habit. "All Scripture is profitable."
[2 Timothy 3:16]. To this habit may be traced that lack of well-proportioned
views of truth, which is so common in this day. Some people's Bible-reading is
a system of perpetual 'dipping and picking'. They do not seem to have an idea
of regularly going through the whole book.
7. Read the Bible fairly and honestly.
Determine to take everything in its plain, obvious meaning — and regard all
forced interpretations with great suspicion. As a general rule, whatever a
verse of the Bible seems to mean — it does mean! Cecil's rule is a very
valuable one, "The
right way of interpreting Scripture is to take it as we find it, without any
attempt to force it into any particular theological system."
8. Read the Bible with Christ continually in view.
The grand primary object of all Scripture, is to testify of Jesus! Old
Testament ceremonies
are shadows of Christ. Old Testament judges
are types of Christ. Old Testament prophecies
are full of Christ's sufferings, and of Christ's glory yet to come. The first
coming and the second; the Lord's humiliation and His glorious kingdom; His
cross and the crown shine forth everywhere in the Bible. Keep fast hold on this
clue, if you would read the Bible aright!
-J.C. Ryle
http://jcrylequotes.com
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