Q:
One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to read some of the Bible every day. But like most of my resolutions, I've failed to keep it. I found some of it interesting, but I didn't really understand most of it, so I stopped. Was I doing something wrong?
A:
I commend you for making this resolution — because nothing will help you become the person God wants you to be more than the Bible. The Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
You aren’t alone in finding the Bible difficult; many people have the same problem. But it doesn’t need to be like this if you approach it in the right way. For example, many people do what you did: They start at the beginning and try reading the Bible straight through. After all (they say), isn’t that the way you read any other book?
Yes, perhaps so — but when we come to the Bible, it’s better to begin at the center — that is, with Jesus Christ. All Scripture points to Him, and He is the center of God’s plans for this world. Begin, therefore, with one of the Gospels in the New Testament (I often suggest John), for they tell us about Jesus — His life, death and resurrection for us.
Read a small portion every day — perhaps only a few paragraphs at first. Ask God to help you understand what you’re about to read, and then read it carefully and thoughtfully. What does it tell us about God, or Jesus, or God’s will for our lives? Then ask yourself what God is teaching you through it, and what difference it should make in your life.