Two Kinds of Bible Reading

There are two ways of reading the Bible. The one does not lead to change, but the other makes our lives fruitful. For many years, I did not realize there was more than one way to read the Bible. Accordingly, my Bible-reading remained barren. After the now long-departed Pastor Hoffmann of Deaconess House in Stuttgart began writing me letters, I became familiar with another way of reading the Bible, a way that has filled my life with many blessings. And that is why I want to speak about this topic. 

Which is the first and altogether unfruitful kind of Bible-reading?

People read chapter after chapter just as they appear in a Bible-reading plan. People pick up a Bible and read the prescribed chapter to God, a chapter that God has known for many years.

If someone had asked me, after I had read one of these chapters, what kind of blessing the chapter brought me, I would not have had an answer. I had read my chapter and had, therefore, done my duty. Even if I did not say these words directly, they summarize what I thought at the time. Many people think that their Bible-reading is a good work that they must do, a Christian duty that must be fulfilled.

I did not experience any real or lasting blessings through this kind of Bible-reading. Then, I received the advice that Pastor Hoffmann gave to his Sisters. He wrote to them that they should always read the Bible in a spirit of self-examination. After reading a verse or passage, they should always ask themselves: “Have I already experienced that?” “Do I really know that?” “Am I doing what this verse says?”

I paid attention to his advice and began to follow it. Suddenly, my Bible-reading changed completely; it became a blessing to me and brought forth much fruit. I no longer picked up the Bible and read a chapter to the Lord out of duty. Instead, the Lord spoke to me through His Word. 

When I asked myself whether or not I followed what was written in the Bible, it was as if God’s Word examined me with accusing eyes and questioned me: “You have been saved for so long, and yet you have not experienced this, or you do not know that?” It was not the written word that spoke to me thus; it was God Himself Who spoke to me through His Word. And without even thinking about it or even meaning to, I would find myself praying: “Lord, forgive me for not being who I should be; forgive me for not attaining all that you have offered me!” My prayer continued, “Lord, give me what I lack!”

As a result, I began a conversation with God – He spoke to me through His word and I spoke to Him through prayer. I was blessed because I recognized my weakness and asked Him for help and renewal.

May I give you an example of what I mean by reading the Bible in a spirit of self-examination?

In the course of my daily Bible-reading, I read 1 Peter 2:7, “Now to you who believe, this stone [Jesus] is precious.” I paused and asked myself, “Is He precious to me?” I was able to answer, “Yes, He is precious to me.” However, I could not shake off these words. They continued to press me: “Why is He precious to you?” After a few moments, I was able to answer, “He is precious to me because of the manger: He left heaven and came to us, to this poor world. He is precious to me because of the cross: He purchased my salvation on that cross. He is precious to me because of the empty grave: He gave us eternal life.” 

Again, a voice asked me, “Is that all?” After some reflection, I answered, “No, that is not all. He is precious to me because He leads me through life, He hears my prayers, and He comforts me in my sorrow.”

Again, the voice asked me, “Is that all?” “No,” I replied, “that is not all. He is precious to me because He speaks to me through His Word. He is precious to me because He has given me His Spirit. He is precious to me because of His blood, through which He has purified me from all sin.”

Once again, the voice said, “Is that all?” “No, He is precious to me because He called me, who was reluctant to serve Him, into His ministry. He is precious to me because He has given me strength and grace for this ministry. Even though my doctors told me that I had an incurable throat disease, I can preach without fatigue. He is precious to me because He has blessed my ministry in both the written and spoken word.” 

God’s Word also addresses more serious matters. We read in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (NIV). Now, we must ask ourselves if we live according to this passage. Do I have compassion for people in need? Am I kind to the people that I meet every day? In humility, do I regard others as better than myself? Do I respond to those who abuse me with gentleness? Do I have patience when things do not happen as quickly or as well as I would like? When I ask myself these questions, I cry out to God, “Dear Lord, forgive me!” But I do not stop there, I also pray, “Dear Lord, help me!” 

As you can see, this kind of Bible-reading is profitable for our spiritual life. Such Bible-reading imparts great blessings. When people spend more time examining the Word, they make precious discoveries. 

I recently had this experience with Ephesians 2:19: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” After reading this passage, I asked myself, “According to these words, what am I?” I am a fellow citizen with the saints. Therefore, I have the rights of a citizen in the City of God. What else am I according to this verse? I am a member of God’s household. In other words, God is the head of the household. He is the Father, and I am His child. If God is the Father, do I need to worry about food, clothing, rent, and so on? No, every father provides for his family. How much more does God provide for His family!

This verse has blessed me richly and brought me great joy! It is true that when we read the Bible in the spirit of self-examination, we will be richly blessed. Then, we rejoice in His Word as “one who finds great treasure” (Psalm 119:162). 

Try it! When you read the Bible, read it in a spirit of self-examination and see how God works in your life!

Ernst Modersohn