The Bible is a big book, a library of books from the far distant past. And we need all the help we can get in trying to understand it. But even so, it is surprising how largely the Bible is self-interpretive when we know what is in it. There are difficulties aplenty in the Bible, even beyond the comprehension of the most erudite. But, for all that, the main teachings of the Bible are unmistakable, so plain that a child can understand the heart of the Bible.
Accept the Bible just as it is, for exactly what it claims to be. Don’t worry about the theories of the critics. The ingenious efforts of modern criticism to undermine the historical reliability of the Bible will pass; the Bible itself will still stand as the light of the human race to the end of time. Pin your faith to the Bible. It is God’s Word. It will never let you down. For us human beings, it is the rock of ages. Trust its teachings and be happy forever.
Read the Bible with an open mind. Don’t try to straitjacket all its passages into the mold of a few pet doctrines. And don’t read into its passages ideas that are not there. But try to search out fairly and honestly the main teachings and lessons of each passage. Thus we will come to believe what we ought to believe; for the Bible is abundantly able to take care of itself if given a chance.
Read the Bible thoughtfully. In Bible reading, we need to watch ourselves very closely, lest our thoughts wander, and our reading become perfunctory and meaningless. We must determine resolutely to keep our minds on what we are reading, to do our best to understand what we can and not to worry too much about what we don’t understand, and to be on the lookout for lessons for ourselves.
Keep a pencil at hand. It is a good thing, as we read, to mark passages we like and to go now and then through the pages and reread passages we have marked. In time a well-marked Bible will become very dear to us, as the day draws near for us to meet the Author.
Habitual, systematic reading of the Bible is what counts. Occasional or spasmodic reading does not mean much. Unless we have some sort of system to follow, and hold to it with resolute determination, the chances are that we will not read the Bible very much at all. Our inner life, like our body, needs its daily food.
A certain time each day, whatever reading plan we follow, should be set aside for it. Otherwise we are likely to neglect or forget to read the Bible. First thing in the morning is good if our work routine permits it. Or in the evening, at the close of the day’s work, we might find ourselves freer from the strain of hurry. Or perhaps both morning and evening. For some, a period in the middle of the day may be more suitable.
The time of day does not greatly matter. The important thing is that we choose a time that best fits in with our daily round of work, and that we try to stick with it and not be discouraged if now and then our routine is broken by things beyond our control.
On Sundays we might do a good part of our Bible reading, since it is the Lord’s Day, set aside for the Lord’s work.
Memorize the names of the Bible books. Do this first. The Bible is composed of 66 books. Each of these books is about something. The starting point for any sort of intelligent conception of the Bible is, first, to know what those books are, the order in which they are arranged, and, in a general way, what each one is about.
Memorize favorite verses. Thoroughly memorize them and repeat them often to yourself—sometimes when you are alone, or in the night to help put yourself to sleep on the everlasting arms. These are the verses that we live on.
To run God’s thoughts through our mind often will make our mind grow to become more like God’s mind; and as our mind grows more like God’s mind, our whole life will be transformed into His image. It is one of the very best spiritual helps we can have.
Plans of Bible Reading
There are many different plans for Bible reading. One plan will appeal to one person, another plan to another person. The same person may, at different times, like different plans. The plan does not greatly matter. The essential thing is that we read the Bible with some degree of regularity.
Our plan of reading should cover the whole Bible with reasonable frequency. It is all God’s Word, all one story, a literary structure of profound and marvelous unity, centered around Christ. Christ is the heart and climax of the Bible. The whole Bible may very properly be called the story of Christ. The Old Testament paves the way for His coming. The four Gospels tell the story of His earthly life. The New Testament letters explain His teachings. And Revelation shows us His triumph.
A well-balanced plan of Bible reading, we think, might be something like this: for every time we read the Bible through, let us read the New Testament an extra time or two, with frequent rereading of favorite chapters in both Testaments.
Taken from Halley's Bible Handbook, written by Henry Halley