The Blessed Life # 4

The Blessed Life # 4

The whole of Christian living hinges on the way in which Christian people read their Bible for themselves. All sermons and addresses, all Bible readings and classes, all religious magazines and books, can never take the place of our own quiet study of God's precious Word. We may measure our growth in grace by the growth of our love for private Bible study. And we may be sure there is something seriously wrong when we lose our appetite for God's Word.

There are a few simple rules which may help many more to acquire this holy art, and I venture to note them down. May the Holy Spirit Himself own and use them!

1. Make time for Bible study. The Divine Teacher must have fixed and uninterrupted hours for meeting with us. His Word must have our freshest and brightest thoughts. We must give Him our best, the first fruits of our days. Hence there is no time for Bible study like the early morning, for we cannot give such undivided attention to the holy thoughts that glisten like diamonds on its pages after we have opened our letters, glanced through the paper, and joined in the prattle of the breakfast table. The manna had to be gathered before the dew was off and the sun up; otherwise it melted.

We ought, therefore, to aim at securing at least half an hour before breakfast for the leisurely and loving study of the Bible. To some this may seem a long time in comparison with what they now give. But it will soon seem all too short. The more you read the Bible, the more you will want to read it. It is an appetite which grows as it is fed. And you will be well repaid. The Bible seldom speaks, and certainly never its deepest, sweetest words, to those who always read in a hurry.

2. Look up for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. No one can so well explain the meaning of His words as He who wrote them. If, then, you want to read the Bible as you should, make much of the Holy Spirit, Who inspired it through holy men. As you open the Book, lift up your heart and say, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." "Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears."

3. Read the Bible methodically. On the whole, there is probably no better way than to read the Bible through once every year.

4. Read your Bible with your pen in your hand. Writing of Frances Havergal, her sister says, "She read her Bible by the study table by seven o'clock in the summer, and eight o'clock in the winter. Sometimes, on bitterly cold mornings, I begged that she would read with her feet comfortably to the fire, and received the reply: "But then, Marie, I can't rule my lines neatly; just see what a find I've got!" If only one searches, there are such extraordinary things in the Bible. She resolutely refrained from late hours and frittering talks at night in place of Bible searchings and holy communings. Early rising and early study were her rule through life."

None, in my judgment, have learned the secret of enjoying the Bible until they have commenced to mark it, neatly underlining and dating special verses which has cast a light upon their path on special days, drawing connections across the page between verses which repeat the same message or ring with the same note, jotting down new references of the catchwords of helpful thoughts. Our Bible, then, becomes the precious memento of bygone hours, and records the history of our inner life.

5. Seek eagerly your personal profit. Bring all its rays to a focus on your own heart. While you are reading, often ask that some verse or verses may start out from the printed page as God's message to yourself. And never close the Book until you feel that you are carrying away your portion of food. It is well, sometimes, to stop reading, and seriously ask, What does the Holy Spirit mean me to learn by this? What bearing should this have on my life? How can I work this into the fabric of my character?

6. Above all, turn from the printed page to prayer. If a cluster of heavenly fruit hangs within reach, gather it. If a promise lies upon the page as a blank check, cash it. If an example of holiness gleams before you, ask God to do as much for you. If a truth is revealed in all its intrinsic splendor, entreat that its brilliance may ever irradiate your life. So shall you come to say with the Psalmist: "O how I love your Word! it is my meditation all the day."

The longer I live and learn the experience of most Christian people, the more I long to help them and unfold glimpses of this life of peace and power and victory over sin which our heavenly Father has made possible for us. There are blessed secrets in the Bible, hidden from the wise and prudent, but revealed to babes; things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, or the heat of man conceived, but which God reveals by His Spirit to those who love Him; and if these were once understood and accepted, they would wipe away many a tear and shed sunshine on many a darkened pathway.

The bitterest experience with most believers is the presence and power of sin. They long to walk through this grimy world with pure hearts and stainless garments. But when they would do good, evil is present with them. They consent to God's law that it is good; they even delight in it after the inner man; they endeavor to keep it; but, notwithstanding all, they seem helpless to perform it. What rivers of tears have fallen upon the open pages of Psalm 51, shed by those who could repeat it every word from the heart! And what regiments of weary feet have trodden the Bridge of Sighs, if we may so call Romans seven, which sets forth the experience of a man who has not learned God's secret.

We must not expect to be free from temptation. Our adversity, the devil, is always going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He tempted our Lord, and he will tempt us. He will entice us to do wrong by every avenue of sense, and will pour his evil suggestions through eye, ear, touch, mouth, and mind. He will get behind us an whisperingly suggest many grievous blasphemies, which we shall think have proceeded from our own mind.

But temptation is not sin. Our Lord was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. There is no sin so long as the will refuses to consent to the solicitation or catch at the bait.

Temptation may even be a blessing to a man when it reveals to him his weakness and drives him to the almighty Saviour. Do not be surprised, dear child of God, if you are tempted at every step of your earthly journey; but you will not be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, and with every temptation there will be a way of escape.

~F. B. Meyer~

(continued with # 5)