James's believed the Word of God was clear and understandable. It was comparable to a mirror that gave an accurate reflection rather than one so distorted that the viewer would gain no real understanding from looking at it. James believed that the Word of God revealed matters upon which the readers should take some appropriate action. The word is relevant in application to our lives. People who are hearers only are treating the Word as if it were useless because of being either unclear or irrelevant.
We may not enjoy spending time in
front of a mirror when it reminds us of the bad hair day we’re having or the
blemish that just won’t clear up. Similarly, as the mirror reveals our physical
flaws, so does the Word of God with our inward imperfections. Our temptation might
be to hastily look in the mirror, or spiritually speaking be readers of the Bible without making it real in our
everyday life.
You can gain knowledge by reading history books or
literature, but reading the Bible
demands action from you. Dutifully listening to a sermon or reading the Bible (without seeking spiritual application)
is the result of faulty reasoning. Thinking God is pleased with half-hearted
spiritual disciplines that don’t actually lead to action. When we skim over
parts of the Bible that deal with
sin, we are missing vital portions of scripture which can hold up a mirror to
our lives. We can’t afford to look at scripture and ignore it, just as we
wouldn’t have an X-ray taken then ignore the results. To remember and
understand what you read in the Bible,
here are common mistakes to avoid:
Failing
to Research Context-The Bible is one continual story,
from cover to cover, about God creating us and doing whatever He could to build
a relationship with us. While many verses work fine when read in a vacuum (most
notably Proverbs and Psalms), most scripture is meant to be understood in
context. You can learn a lot more about the verse you’re reading by examining
the details surrounding it, including: Author – who wrote the book, and why were they writing it? What
else do we know about this person? Date – when the book was written can tell you a lot about the
verses in the book you’re reading.
For
example, knowing that the book of Ruth took place in 1300 BC tells us that they
lived during the time of judges, when Israel was at one of its darkest points
in history. This makes the story of Ruth and Boaz that much more inspiring and
powerful. Recipient – who the book was intended for can give you more insight
on how the scriptures were meant to be processed. This is especially true of
the letters in the New Testament, most of which were written to different
churches who were in various spiritual states.
Looking
for Insight Rather Than Personal Application-The
Bible is a fascinating book. There’s
no doubt about that. Even if you’re coming at it from a completely atheistic
perspective, there’s enough historical and cultural significance, as well as
action-packed sequences, to keep you occupied for days. However, for believers,
simply reading the Bible for information is not enough if we want it to have an
impact on our lives. Just about every verse you read contains some kind of
direction from God on how we can change our lives for the better and open up to
His transformation in our lives.
The
Bible is applicable to situations we
go through on a day to day basis (Hebrews 4:12), from dealing with stress to
loving those around us. It’s a huge temptation to only read the Bible with the purpose of gaining more
knowledge. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, you’re missing
the whole point of the scriptures if you never once sit down and read it with
the intent to let it guide you to change something in your life.
Reading
in a Distracting Environment-This one seems obvious,
but you’d be surprised by how many people read their Bibles with the TV on,
while playing iPhone games, or while friends or family are nearby asking for
help. While those scenarios may work for homework or paying the bills, they
make it close to impossible to really read the scriptures and hear what God is
trying to tell you. As I mentioned in the first point, reading your Bible can be a very personal affair.
Eliminating distractions could mean the difference between reading a nice verse
and finding the passage that changes how you view your life.
Sticking
to the Same Translation-If the only version of the Bible you’ve ever read is the one
sitting on your shelf that you’ve had since you were a kid, there’s a chance
you’re reading a translation that may not be right for you. A lot of people make
the mistake of sticking to the same Bible
translation, either refusing to change because of tradition or because they’re
unaware of the other reading options available.
Since
each translation is slightly different, reading a different version can give
you more insight into the scriptures, and can make an otherwise confusing scripture
more accessible. Order another version (such as the New Living Translation or
The Message) and see if it helps you understand a new perspective on the scriptures,
or clear up any confusion you may have previously had.
Thinking
the Only Way to Read the Bible is By Looking at Words on a Page-In
today’s modern age, there are countless ways to digest information. This is no
less true for the Bible. Many people
get stuck in a box and feel intimidated by the sheer volume of Scriptures, and
end up never giving the Bible a chance.
While the fear is understandable, it’s completely avoidable. If you’re feeling
bored of reading, or perhaps have a disability or learning challenge, try
listening to the Bible (via a full
audio Bible, or a read along feature
like the one found in the Tecarta Bible app) or watching the Bible (The
Story
is a great example of a visual presentation of the Bible).
“I saw that the most important
thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to
meditation on it…. What is the food of the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word
of God; and….not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes
through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we
read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.” (George Müller) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Do
What the Word Says” by Bible Gateway
·
“5 Tips for Putting the
Bible into Practice in Your Life” by Jack Wellman
·
“5 Mistakes People Make When
Reading the Bible” by Mike Query
·
“Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Only — James
1:22–25” by Kyle Spencer
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