Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary Life

Glazed Eyes

I've been spending a lot of time the past two months pouring over church constitutions, bylaws and vision statements as I try to develop a set for the new church we will be planting. The first few were quite interesting. After a while though, my eyes begin to glaze over and while I know I've read some of the material I can't recall what I've just read.

I think I'm coming close to a workable set of documents. Kathy and I spent some time recently making changes based on her thoughts. She read what I had written and was able to offer some input into better wording and help me clarify my thoughts in various areas.

It was good to get a fresh set of eyes because I was starting to read what I thought I had written instead of what was actually on paper. Once again my eyes had begun to glaze over with familiarity.

The same thing can happen when we read our Bibles. We get so familiar with some of the stories that we really don't stop to read them any more. Or we get in a section we think is boring, like one of the genealogies or the section of the law dealing with mildew and skin diseases and our eyes glaze over. Afterwards we know that we have read it but we really have no idea what we've read.

Sometimes in our daily Bible reading, we go into auto-pilot mode and read our prescribed numbers of chapters and verses but we don't take time to think about what we're reading. It's just something on our checklist of things to do.

We know that we're called to spend time reading the Word.

 

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 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 17:18-19 NIV

 

Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law--the blessings and the curses--just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them. Joshua 8:34-35

 

Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly. Nehemiah 8:18 NIV

Even Jesus spent time reading the Scriptures.

 

He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read Luke 4:16 NIV

How do we read the Word and avoid the glazed eye syndrome?

  • Pray for God's guidance as you read.
  • Try reading it out loud. That causes a person to think about what they're reading.
  • Listen to a tape of the Scriptures as you read.
  • Try reading a different translation than you're used to.
  • Read standing up.
  • Look for the answers to questions as you read. What is the passage about? Who are the main characters? Is there a promise from God in the passage? How do I apply this to my life?
  • Read it at a different time of day then you normally read.
  • Remove yourself from distractions while you read.
  • Make notes on what you have just read.

The Bible is God's operator's manual for life. It is also one of the primary tools we have to get to know Him better. It's must reading for any believer. Even non-believers can learn some of the truths of life by reading the Bible.

Until next time, spend some productive time reading the Word.

Be blessed.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!

Kevin

http://gleaningsfromtheword.com

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