Beef Up Your Bible Reading 12

So, you’ve worked out why that passage is there: the writer’s intended purpose. Great, but don’t think you’re done at that. Now you’ve got to work out what difference it’s going to make to you.

Begin by asking what response the writer wanted from the people he was writing for and let that guide your thoughts. You’ll often find it stated in the passage. If it’s not — you’ve guessed it — look at the context and take note of what that’s about. Now, here are some questions. Thinking about them will help you figure out what response you must make.

In what ways are your circumstances like those of the original readers? In what ways are they different?

What have you learned? How has what you’ve read added to or changed what you know about God and His ways? What difference should knowing what you now know make?

Is there a rebuke in what you’ve read? Is there something you need to put right with God or with someone else? Is there behaviour that needs to change?

Is there a higher standard of godly living that you need to reach for?

Is there encouragement in what you’ve read? How can what you’ve read make you a stronger, more faithful follower of the Lord Jesus?

Does what you’ve read make you rejoice in the Lord and love Him more? How are you going to worship Him in response?

And remember, if what you’ve read doesn’t have much application to the circumstances you find yourself in just now, maybe you’ll find yourself in different circumstances in the future. Think about how it might apply to circumstances you can imagine yourself encountering one day and store up your conclusions. And of course, we all have a responsibility to look out for one another so don’t forget to think about how what you’ve learned could be applied to help someone you know.

Bible reading should never be just about gaining knowledge. Everything you read in the Bible is meant to change you. If it doesn’t, you’ve missed the point.