Regular, consistent time with the Word allows the Holy Spirit to illuminate and apply it in practical life situations. Growth is the natural result. The process can, however, falter at any point. Whenever other activities crowd out devotional Scripture reading, the lack of nourishment may stunt growth. Even Christian workers sometimes allow the ministry to so fully occupy time and energy that they skip spiritual meals themselves. This is foolish indeed. A dedicated Christian cannot expect to succeed in spirituality without reading Scripture.
On the other hand, too often Christians read from duty, without absorbing much nourishment. They read but they soon forget the passage and seldom experience much uplift. Two reasons for the problem are failure to concentrate and failure to meditate.
If we were given a book that contained the cure for our fatal disease, we would study it thoroughly. If there was some significant monetary reward for studying the Word, you can be sure we would devote ourselves every available moment to it. Yet God has provided the food we need for spiritual health and we often leave it untouched. We claim to believe that the Bible produces growth, but we fail to feast on it.
Even though we may not recall the details of our devotional reading, that reading will normally have had a cleansing, refreshing effect. The believer must continue to read despite how little he or she can recite afterward.
People should not, however, become satisfied with such a lack of retention. If I see myself in the Bible and choose to profit from what I see, I will remember more. I will have less trouble with retention than the person who reads merely out of habit. Many find it helpful to insert their names in the passage. Then God keeps addressing golden promises and solemn warnings to them rather than just to pre-Christian Israel or first century Galatian believers. Keeping a journal about one’s Bible exploration can also be very helpful.
Meditation is another way of strengthening the impact of Scripture on our lives. Refocusing on the day’s reading throughout the day helps fasten it in the memory. It also enhances the sanctifying effect God intends. However, not all meditation is profitable. Eastern mystics practice forms of meditation that can lead to spiritual bondage, whereas meditation on God’s Word pays dividends. When we allow our busy schedules to reduce or eliminate our time in the Scriptures, the lack of nourishment will undoubtedly stunt our growth.
One way of increasing comprehension is to take time to study the rules of interpretation. I recently encouraged a middle-aged college graduate to enroll in a hermeneutics course. This week I heard her exclaim, "Now I see why you advised me to take hermeneutics. Why, every Christian needs a course like this!" For those unable to enroll in a formal class, any of several understandable books could teach you how to interpret the Word.
We live in an age of the quick fix. We want instant truth along with instant breakfast cereal and instant car washes. When it comes to spiritual things, we want God to drop truth from heaven into our hearts without our having to bother studying. Perhaps this in part explains the yen for alleged Spirit revelations, words of wisdom and sudden impressions. Instead of laboriously searching Scripture to find an inspired answer, people prefer to look to a Christian guru to pronounce instruction over them. They unwisely look to fallible people for God’s plan for their future.
Others fail to grasp Scripture’s meaning due to a lack of dependence on the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment. Since the Spirit inspired original authors to write the Word, surely He wants to illuminate contemporary readers. Besides employing diligence in studying, believers should depend on the Spirit to help them discern Scripture’s spiritual intent and find its relevance to their current needs.
In review, failure to read Scripture regularly, to concentrate while reading and to meditate after reading can spell defeat. Failure to understand, to interpret and to depend on the Spirit’s illumination can all hamper Christian growth. A believer with trouble should check to see where he or she has missed a turn.
At other times, Christians allow Satan to snatch the seed before it takes root in the personality, as Jesus illustrated in the parable of the sower. Falling along the path, the seed proved unproductive because birds devoured it. Jesus explained that the devil removes the Word from hearts lest people receive salvation (Luke 8:5, 12).
This insight into the way the evil one works suggests that he also robs Christians of the truth that would increase holiness. If believers keep alert, however, they can successfully thwart Satan’s malicious attempts to steal. God’s children can ponder the preached Word they hear and read Scripture with regularity, attention, comprehension and application. By insight into the enemy’s schemes, they can avoid becoming victims (2 Corinthians 2:11).
The psalmist said he hid God’s Word in his heart to avoid sin (Psalm 119:11). John stated that young people become strong when the Word abides within (1 John 2:14). When Jesus asked God to sanctify His followers through the truth, He added that God’s Word constitutes truth (John 17:17). God, its inspirer, yearns to make and keep His children more holy. Thus the Word gives directions for the Christian to progress in the sanctified walk.
Moreover, that very Word enters the life in sanctifying power. As digested food within the body somehow becomes nourishment, energy, health, renewal and growth, so the digested manna of Scripture becomes the believer’s ongoing sanctification. Therefore, Scripture both informs believers about continuing sanctification and supplies the means for such abundant living.
The reading of fine Christian books can explain and reinforce what we read in Scripture. Although such reading must never substitute for the Word, it can be a beneficial supplement. One can help to develop our spirituality by reading and studying the truth.
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