Three Essential Components to Daily Bible Reading
We need three essential components “to ongoing fruitful encounters with God and his intended truth through the Bible.” (1) Motivation, (2) skill, and (3) illumination. Or (1) the “want to,” (2) the “able to,” and (3) the “see through.” Or the (1) desire, (2) act, and (3) reward of Bible reading.
1. The Desire for Bible Reading
Essential Bible reading component 1 is the motivation—the “want to,” the desire for Bible reading. “If we lose motivation, we will not read the Bible. And if we don’t read the Bible, we miss everything God has for us through the word.” We must be motivated for the task, with motivation like Jesus offers in John 17. “There is a fullness of joy that we will miss if we don’t continually listen to what Jesus speaks—that is, listen to the Bible” (John 17:13). And there’s a life transformation we will miss if we don’t read the Bible (John 17:17). And there’s a strengthening of our faith that comes through the testimony of Christ and his apostles via Scripture (John 17:20). “If you want faith, if you want holiness, if you want joy—they all come through encountering God in his word, Jesus says. That’s how we get motivated.”
2. The Act of Bible Reading
Essential Bible reading component 2 is the skill—the “able to,” the act of Bible reading. “Something mysterious happens when we pick up a pen or a pencil—not a keyboard, but a pen or a pencil—and we either write out the text, or if it’s too long, write down questions you have or observations you make about the things that you’re reading in the text.” The act of writing out the text will cause you to have new thoughts about the text you would not have had otherwise. Write out your thoughts and questions. Note-taking cultivates careful Bible reading.
3. The Reward of Bible Reading
Essential Bible reading component 3 is illumination—the “see through,” the reward of Bible reading. The payoff. The realities of God—his character, will, and ways—“shine through the Scriptures.” We see these divine glories by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:18).[1]
Component 3 is subtle, profound, and expounded elsewhere more fully. It means we don’t grow content with checking off daily readings, or marking up our Bible for Instagram, or even arcing or diagraming texts. Press “through the words” to get into “the reality” that was “driving and animating” the Bible’s words.[2] “Massive realities are behind these words.” So push yourself “through words into reality.”[3] “Push through” the Bible’s words and grammar and logic until you see “the reality behind all the words and grammar and logic.” And then dwell on that illuminated divine reality until it becomes “an emotionally experienced reality.”[4]
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Sources
[1] APJ 1297: “Three Reasons to Read the Bible Every Day in 2019” (January 2, 2019).
[2] APJ 1713: “John Piper’s Ministry in One Bible Text” (December 3, 2021).
[3] APJ 1268: “How to Read the Bible for Teenagers” (October 26, 2018).
[4] APJ 1197: “How to Read the Bible—and Preach It” (May 14, 2018).