Connected but not committed
Since I received my new iPod Touch, I’ve been using it to do some of my daily Bible reading. I have been reading through the book of Isaiah and so far I have really enjoyed using the iphone Bible application YouVersion from the tech geniuses at Lifechurch.tv. It looks a little strange to be flipping through Bible verses on your iPod, but it works great. I especially like the ability to bookmark verses so I can come back to them later.
But it has made me stop and think. I’ve got a bookshelf full of Bibles, I can access the Bible from my smartphone, I can listen to it as mp3 files, and now I can read it on my laptop or iPod. We have more access to the Word of God than any other generation and yet, as Americans, we simply don’t make it a priority to read! How can you truly love a God you don’t know? And how can you know the character and love of God if you never have read His words written to you?
You will never see significant Spiritual growth in your life until you start reading the Bible. If you don’t take responsbility and start feeding yourself, you will remain an infant being spoon fed by others. It doesn’t matter if you read the Bible on an iPod or a normal book, JUST START READING! If you don’t know where to start, then check out my previous post about different Bible reading plans.
So my question for you is, how do you read the Bible?
And I’ll add in a plug for YouVersion, if you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, you really need to download this app – it’s awesome. They also have a blackberry version and a normal website as well.
YouVersion iPhone Bible App from YouVersion on Vimeo.
You know, I am feeling exactly how you are explaining. I keep on trying to get started on my one year reading plan, with the bible on my BlackBerry, iPod Touch, mp3 on my iPod, and even a program called Bible desktop on my MacBook. With all of the distractions that present themselves in everyday life, it is challenging to keep on track in reading, as well as it is hard to concentrate on all aspects of life that need attention. It does seem though that for every chapter or two that I read, I understand and become that much closer to really understanding things and delving deeper into myself.
I try not to read -just to be reading,- but instead to study thoroughly a book or a chapter, so that I am sinking into His word, and letting it sink into me. Reading through it lets you become familiar with what's where in the Bible, but I think that the “pondering” of the words (also with the help of others) help you gain an understanding that will affect your life. Study also keeps you engaged so that you will eagerly come back to it. Even if you don't read through the entire Bible in a year, you have “eaten” a portion of it.
I agree, we should really slow down to take time and meditate on what we read, but I also think it's good to read through larger portions of Scripture at times. Typically, I try to spend time just in devotional reading, where I'm gaining a bigger picture of the context and story of the Bible, and then I slow down and spend time in deeper study where I'm doing the tougher work of interpreting and applying the Scripture to my life. It is amazing how Scripture can challenge us and change us as we learn and apply God's Word to our lives. thanks for the comments
Mike, I depend on you he latest tech help. Thanks. I was riding up the road to Gatlinburg and just thinking there must be a Bible for Blackberry and then your blog update came. Wow