Reading Lots of Scripture
I realize now that I can read more of the Bible each day if I want to.
On most days of the week I try to read a lot of Scripture. In fact, I usually read up to 9 passages of Scripture on most days—3 passages assigned by Common Prayer (www.commonprayer.net) and 6 chapters assigned by myself (4 from the Old Testament and 2 from the New).
This amount is way up from the single passage that I used to read each day in the past. When I was a young Christian, people would recommend that I read one passage or chapter from the Bible per day. It was sound advice—for beginners. I realize now that I hadn't put some thought into developing the habit further over time. I mistakenly relied solely on that one piece of advice for years. I realize now that I can read more of the Bible each day if I want to. And there are plenty of benefits for doing so.
The Bible is a very long book filled with wisdom and insights. If I read only one passage or chapter a day, it's going to take me a really long time to get through the entire Bible. I'm going to miss out on a lot of things. Some of these things can be really vital and insightful for my spiritual life. Additionally, reading more each day helps me get a sense of the bigger story. I can see the bigger picture better because I simply know more of the Bible.
Even if I read a lot of Scripture per day, I'm likely going to miss a lot of things on the first, second, and even third reading of a passage. I want to be able to read various passages and chapters of the Bible multiple times in my lifetime so that I can learn more. I'm constantly surprised by the fact that I learn new insights even from passages that I've already read multiple times before.
Certain verses or passages will speak to me more when my circumstances change. As a developing human being, I move from season to season. I grow and I mature. I switch life stages. The Bible has a way of speaking into these new seasons of life even from passages that I've already read before. Previously, those verses may not have resonated with me. But with new circumstances, those same verses may impact me more. It's good to re-read passages that I've already read for this very purpose.
Sometimes, I may read a passage that I'm just not ready for yet. And so, it doesn't impact me. But in a different season, I may be more ready to receive the wisdom and insights found in that particular verse or passage. It's like that old proverb with unknown origins: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Sometimes, I'm just not a ready student. And so, a passage may not impact me at all at that particular time. But in another season, I may be more ready. And that same verse or passage will be significant.
There are times when I read a passage or chapter and I don't get anything out of it. That's OK. At the very least, I'm increasing my Biblical literacy and I'm helping myself see the bigger story of the Bible. But this is also why I read more than one passage per day. One of the 9 passages I read each day is bound to impact me in some way.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
