Let the word of Christ

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:15-17 The Message (MSG)

You need to keep a strong grip on God’s Word. There are five ways to read the Bible. All have importance but the fifth way is how we allow the Bible to become part of our lives. If you look at your hand, the thumb is how you grip things. If you lose 3 fingers you can still get hold of something, but if you lose your thumb you can no longer hold onto something easily.

1. The first way to read the Bible is indicated by your little finger. It is what you are hearing as the Bible is read. You will retain about 5% of what you hear.
   Jesus commented, “Even more blessed are those who hear God’s Word and guard it with their lives!” Luke 11:28 The Message (MSG)
2. Next finger is reading the Bible yourself. What you read you will generally retain 20% of what you read. This is might what we call the panoramic view of the Bible. When you look at a beautiful view you don’t need a powerful magnifying glass to examine every part of the view.
   It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees. Deuteronomy 17:19 New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
3. Sometimes though it is good to examine a particular flower and then the magnifying glass might be used for a closer focus. Hence, the middle finger is study. When you study the Bible you might retain around 35% of what you read. This is called the microscopic view.
   Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
4. The next way to read the Bible is represented by your index finger and it is to memorise the Bible. In this way you will retain 100% of what you read.
   How can a young person live a clean life?
   By carefully reading the map of your Word.
   I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
   don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
   I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
   so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
   Be blessed, God;
   train me in your ways of wise living.
   I’ll transfer to my lips
   all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
   I delight far more in what you tell me about living
   than in gathering a pile of riches.
   I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
   I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
   I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
   I won’t forget a word of it.
   Psalm 119:9-16 The Message (MSG)
5. The key to reading your Bible is meditation. Meditation is where the Word of God flows from your head into your heart and becomes your blood. Isaac Newton’s blood was said to be bibling!
   And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Joshua 1:8 The Message (MSG)

The Bible is there for you. Not you for the Bible so don’t get legalistic about the way you read it. Sometimes it is a delight to read the Bible, sometimes a duty but always a necessity.

Lord, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Thank you that we can live in Your light and walk in Your truth.
May the things that you have revealed and thoughts that we have shared
dwell in our hearts and stir us to action.

We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus.

Amen.