All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
I taught Romeo and Juliet as a high school English teacher for several years. A few of those years I was at a school on block scheduling, so I taught one group of students in the fall (three classes) and another group in the spring (three more). When I was at a school with a year round schedule, I taught five or six classes. So let’s just say I can quote a lot of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Before I started teaching this play, I didn’t remember reading it in high school (though I’m sure I did), and I didn’t read it in college because once you get to college, your English professors prefer to choose literary works you likely haven’t read yet—with good reason. But after a few semesters of teaching Shakespeare’s story of star-crossed lovers to high schoolers, I knew the play forwards and backwards. Why? Because I was reading it and studying it every class, every semester, and every year with all my students.
This same exact principle holds true with many things. Can’t you quote lines from your favorite movies because you’ve seen them so many times? Don’t you remember lines from books that you’ve read and songs you’ve sang over and over? Of course! But why? It’s because repetition is the key to retention.
This concept is true, too, with our Bibles. But why don’t we believe this applies to our Bible reading? Maybe we do believe this, but we haven’t given it enough time to really see it through. Yet if we’re able to memorize lines in movies, plays, songs, and books, imagine what we could learn and remember if we read our Bibles consistently? And though Bible verse memorization is certainly a great practice and one worth investing time in, reading the Bible consistently can help with remembering stories and passages of teachings too.
Reading the Bible is often times difficult. The Bible is a complex text, and finding time to devote to it with our schedules, plans, and outings can be trying. But don’t let the challenge deter you from beginning—or beginning again. Even reading a few verses a day allows you to be in God’s Word and glean knowledge from it.
According to John chapter 1, verse 1, the Word was with God in the beginning: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And Matthew 24:35 tells us that God’s words will never pass away. This is significant and important for us! Reading God’s words that were at the beginning and will always be should signal to us how worthy they are of study.
At the risk of sounding cliche, I’ll say it anyway: The more we read, the more we know. You may not have read it before and you may not have read it consistently, but there’s no time like the present. As you continue on in 2019, be encouraged to step into reading the Bible.
I am following a chronological plan and reading through the Bible this year with my preteens. (Per their request!) It’s amazing how the words I’ve read so many times are seen differently as I mature and even more as I answer questions and have discussions with my children reading it for the first time.
I feel the exact same way! I’m in Leviticus right now, but I’m even gaining so much from reading all the details there too!
Good advice. The Bible is the greatest treasure that must be fully exploited.