25 Ways to Read Scripture - Day 5

Write out the Word 

In the age of computers, we don’t often copy anything out by hand. Find a passage that has hit home in the past month or so, and copy it out by hand. This will help you to pay close attention to what you are reading as you go through it slowly. What jumps out to you as you write?

25 Ways to Read Scripture - Day 4

Draw the Word 

Most of us learn visually, even though many of us are not artists.  A simple sketch or doodle can bring to mind stories or faith concepts.  For example, Paul's teaching that God's power is made perfect in our weakness (II Cor. 12) is captured in the powerful visual image in Rev. 5 of Jesus the Lion actually being a Lamb.  Yes, we know, you're probably not an artist, but sketch out a simple lion and place a lamb inside it, and keep that sketch near you today.  Or else, create another simple drawing that will keep the Word near your eyes during the day today. 

25 Ways to Read Scripture - Day 3

Proverbs

Billy Graham made a simple mathematical calculation:  there are 31 chapters in Proverbs and there are 31 days in most months.   He decided to read through the book of Proverbs every month, a chapter a day.  

We don't need to do it every month, but add a chapter of its wisdom to your lunch break today and consider continuing as the month warms up....     

25 Ways to Read Scripture - Day 2

Live into a biblical metaphor

The Bible is overflowing with metaphors that help us understand God and walking with him.  Some of these include shepherd, light, rock, being clothed with Christ, tree, fruit, and more.  Go to www.biblegateway.com, search for one of these metaphors, and allow three or four verses to "play" inside your heart during the day.  Here's an example using "light":

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  (Gen. 1: 3)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  (Isaiah 9: 2)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8: 12)

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matt. 5: 14-16)

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (II Cor. 4:  6-7)

The city (the New Jerusalem) does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.  (Rev. 21:  23-24)

Traveling on with Bethlehem's Light

My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel (Luke 2: 30-32).

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119: 105).

We haven’t taken down our Christmas tree yet; in some strange way I find its green branches and coloured lights comforting and reassuring and I want to hang on to them as long as I can.

But I know the tree will be gone by the end of the week, and if I’m not careful, life will continue on into the winter with a “same old, same old” feel to it.

Here’s what “same old” looks like:  a couple of years ago January 20 was awarded the label of “the most depressing day of the year.”  It received this dubious honour for three reasons: 

• most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by this date.
• the Christmas shopping credit card statements arrive.
• winter snow now seems old, and spring is still a long two months away. 

I can’t help you if you have credit card or snow issues, but I have an idea for those resolutions.  Instead of beginning this term in “same old” mode, I invite you to travel on from Bethlehem into Epiphany.

Today is the first day of Epiphany, which celebrates the light of Christ being revealed to the Gentiles, as foretold by Simeon (see the verses from Luke 2, above).  A star led the Magi to the Savior, but you and I now travel on from Bethlehem guided by that Light of the world as we come to know him through the Scriptures.  As David sings so eloquently, “In your light we see light” (Ps. 36: 9).   Through the word written we see the Word made flesh.

Do you find it a challenge to invite the Scriptures to be a light to your path? Instead of New Year’s resolutions, try these Epiphany resolutions:

• Next week Tuesday and Wednesday Andy Crouch, a very wise interpreter of Scripture, will make several presentations on campus.  Hear him as often as you can.
• Every day this month the chaplaincy team will send out a different suggestion for reading Scripture.  Spend two minutes every day allowing these suggestions to stretch your own walking in the Word.

Psychologists tell us that new habits are best developed by small steps, and it takes 25 days to develop a new habit.  There are 25 days left in January.  Who knows, might the Lord use those two minutes a day to change your life….?

When I was thirty years old, a wise, older believer challenged me to spend three consecutive hours soaking in Psalm 23.  I think he realized that I needed a radical strategy to deal with the weak and random ways I was trying to live by Scripture’s light.  My walk with the Light of the World has not been the same since that day.  My prayer for Redeemer is that with our Epiphany resolutions, January 20 (two weeks from today) will actually be one of the most encouraging days of the year.  

May the Lord bless you richly as you walk with Him into 2014.

25 Ways to Read Scripture - Day 1

Day 1: Cue Cards

Write out a Scripture verse in and keep it in your pocket or attached to your phone (somewhere you will see it throughout the day). Read and reflect on it every time you see it; by day's end you will have it memorized. If you do this every day for the month, by the end of the month you will have 25 Bible verses memorized and hidden in your heart.

Introducing 25 Ways to Read Scripture

This month we will be sending out a different suggestion for reading Scripture every day.  We invite you to use these to strengthen your own walking in the Word for 2014 and beyond.

- Syd, Robb, Deborah and Mark