Bible as Pleasure: 5 Ways to Fight for Daily Reading

We also give thanks to God constantly for this reason, because when you received the proclaimed word of God from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God which is also at work in you believers. (1 Thess 2:13, my translation)

Studying 1 Thessalonians for Greek exegesis has been God's amazing grace to me this semester. One of the most glorious statements in the two chapters that we have translated and performed exegetical methods on so far is 1 Thess 2:13. This message which the missionaries proclaimed to the Thessalonians was spoken by human agents (apostles), but Paul knows that this message is invaluable because the Thessalonians accepted the words and message as for what they truly are, the Word of God! If only we would do the same, and see it as priceless and cherish God's Word as it truly is! Both verbs are present tense. A more literal rendering might be: “which is working in you, the ones believing.” The power of God's Word did not stop at their conversion.

I would like to offer some practical advice to help you out if you desire to read the Bible all the way through once every year like I do, but also have a wandering (also reflective) mind like I do.

1a. Trust the promises of God and what He says about His Word. Really, this is probably one of the hardest thing for Christians to do, but I think it is the most important! I think many of us struggle here because we just don't believe that the Bible is all that it says it is. We may say that we do, we may defend that position before our friends, but real understanding produces real action. I don't say this to offend, so much as I say it because it is a reality; it is a reality, at times, for me as well.

Just about everything in this world is fighting against our desire for Christ Jesus and against our desire for the Word; one-hundred-thousand things are vying for your constant attention and adoration, things that require, what we think is, little effort on our part. But if you do not believe that the Word of God is nourishing to your formation in to the image of Christ (John 17:17), if you do not believe the the Word is truly balm to your heart (Ps 19:7-8), or if you don't believe that the Word is truly God's words to you (1 Thess 2:13), then you will not go to the Bible easily. In other words, if you believe the Downton Abbey, or Modern Family, or old Frasier re-runs, or Lord of the Rings marathons, or video games, or sex, or food, or keeping up with friends/family on Facebook, or writing blogs, or gossip...if anything else is more satisfying than God revealing Himself to you in His Word (1 Sam 3:21), then you will not go to the Word easily. It is a battle without those things I mentioned. It is one-thousand times harder with them.

So hear a sampling of what the Lord says about His Word:

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
(Psalm 19:7-10)

 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
(Psalm 119:103)

Don't you also love how God compares His Word with foods? Think about the implications here. This comparative language says that reading, meditating, and cherishing God's Word, is pleasurable, just like the pleasure one gets from eating their favorite, most satisfying foods. There is only one exception: the magnifier at the end of the word “sweet.” It is not just as sweet as honey, but sweet-er! Think of something you find deep pleasure in eating. David says that feasting on God's Word, Law, statutes, decrees, etc., brings even more pleasure to Him; it is David's delight (Psalm 1:2). This is the kind of promise one needs to hold onto in order to fight for pleasure in reading God's Word daily. For those of us struggling to see it as more pleasurable than honey, then I offer the next advice...

1b. Pray that God Would Work a Miracle In Your Heart. You see, the Christian life isn't simply about becoming saved and then living as you lived before with a free ticket out of eternal damnation. It is all about a new heart (Deut 30:6). But even this new heart seems to be sanctified more deeply over time. If you don't desire to read God's Word, to feast on His Word, then pray that God would bring about a miracle in your heart; that He would implant a brand new desire to eat something sweeter than honey; that your heart would trust His promises and live by them through delighting in His Word.
 
2. Attempt to simplify your life. I think one of the problems that we have today is that we are putting too much weight of importance in areas that are clearly not as important as personal devotion and communion with the holy Trinity. This might be adding to your unnecessary busyness. It may be adding to your lack of motivation to fight sin. You may need to take a small period each day to pray that the Lord reveal to you the areas in which you have done this, then you can re-prioritize. Take away those things that have become less important. My wife and I have really cut down our t.v. viewing considerably over the past few weeks. Honestly, this has allowed for more heart-opening discussions at the dinner table, and it has allowed for more nightly devotions, a short Bible study, and prayers. (My long-term desire and goal is to get rid of my t.v. altogether).

You might have problems with sitting still. You may be someone who thinks that sitting down and not moving and physically doing something is a waste of time. I assure you, it is a waste of time if you are doing things that are not helpful to your spiritual formation into the image of Christ (Gal 4:19). This is NOT to imply that work, marriage, and duty cannot have a sanctifying effect and glorify God. Granted, bills need to get paid, kids need to be fed and take a bath, dishes need to be done, and maybe you had to bring some work home. All of these things are important, but your nourishment from the Word is even more important, and it has powerful effects on your family, your fight against sin, your witness at work, as well as on your pleasure, joy, and satisfaction in Christ; the Word's nourishing, cleansing, and sanctifying power has eternal implications for you and those around you.

Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:7–8). It seems that as Christ's Word works its power in you, you begin to know how to pray for your needs that will bear fruit for God, prove your discipleship to others, and so glorify God!

Now Richard Foster is right on when he says, “Nothing must come before the kingdom of God, including the desire for a simple life-style.” But simplicity can be the tool of God's grace to open up time for meeting Christ in the Word of God. He goes on to say the following:

The person who does not seek the kingdom first does not seek it at all. Worthy as all other concerns may be, the moment they become the focus of our efforts they become idolatry...And, in fact, when the kingdom of God is genuinely placed first...[all other concerns] will be given their proper attention.

Seek the Kingdom of God and righteousness through God's revelation of Himself and the Way of life, and this will help to bring the rest of your life more into balance. One need not neglect life around oneself in order to spend time with God. We can seek the kingdom through the Word.

Clicking the speaker button
at the bottom brings up the
audio feature.

3. Use an audio Bible to read along with you. Really, if you want practical advice that you can implement immediately, this has been immensely helpful for me. Let me stress again the word, immensely! You can either purchase one of your favorite translations on Audio CD, or, if you can't afford it right now, go to www.youversion.com and you can listen to several translations for free. I downloaded the app for the iPhone and I can listen to the ESV there as I read along in my Bible. This helps keep my mind on track and I am able to get through my reading successfully, and then I check off each passage read.

Now, if you're introverted and reflective like I am, then you can reflect on verses after you've successfully completed your reading for the day. Keep a pad of paper next to you to jot down verses that are drawing you into reflection as you're reading, and then return to them after.

YouVersion has Bible
reading plans for
everyone!

4. Find a Bible reading plan that fits your needs. Also through You Version, you can find all kinds of reading plans. There are so many to choose from. If you want to read the Bible's story chronologically, you can. If you want a blended reading so that you're not reading the books in order, that's available (recommending this one right now)! If you want to start off smaller and just read the New Testament in one year, that is a great option. Maybe you want to blend your own plan: for instance, if you really struggle with the Old Testament, you can choose two plans; a one year plan for the New Testament (go through it two years in a row), and add a two-year plan for the Old Testament. Or if you want to read the Bible topically for now, you can do that. The options are really endless. Starting off smaller and building up can really help keep back the feeling of defeat. If you read this along with the aforementioned audio, you should be on the track to getting fed by God's grace through His Word. There is also a reminder feature for your

With the Catch Me Up
feature, there is no
need to give up!

Also available through the You Version app is the ability to “Catch up.” So if you fall behind, you can tell it to catch up your last reading to today's date. No reason to feel defeated. No reason to give up. Just pick up where you left off. Remember, you're not doing indepth study, you are simply hearing God's Word, and allowing it to become familiar to you in devotions, and then these words will be more familiar to you in corporate worship, in Bible study, etc.

5. Don't Fall for the Trap
There is a trap that some people fall into that says something like, “That's cool for pastors, or seminary students, or for those whose 'thing' is the Bible.” Don't fall for that lie! This book is for all of God's people. If you believe that pastors have it easy and it is simply “their thing,” you have another thing coming. We seminary students study hard because we are called to seminary, to a future ministry, but for devotional times, for meditating on the word “day and night” (Ps 1:2), this is not simply “our thing.” Studying the Bible and meditating on it can be related, but are most often different things. If you are reborn of the Spirit of God, then this book is for you. We all have to fight hard to make devotions and meditation a reality.

Fight For the Word!
Don't give up! The Lord has provided so many tools for you to carry the Bible with you easily, to memorize them more easily, to find a translation that makes sense to you, and to stay on track! Read the holy Scriptures and be formed in the image of Christ! Find pleasure and satisfaction, “for at your right hand are pleasures forevermore!” (Psalm 16:11).