Get to Know Your Barriers
Many barriers discourage us from being steadfast in our daily Bible reading. The Bible can be intimidating and seem foreign to us as we begin to read. God’s Word is incredibly unique and unlike anything else we have ever encountered. It takes time and patience to build up the skills necessary to read the Bible more easily. The first step is understanding the barriers between the Bible and us.
Why do we struggle to read the Bible?
1. The Bible Wasn’t Written in English
Language is complex, and translation isn’t codebreaking. Every translation is an interpretation. The Bible was originally written in ancient Hebrew and ancient Greek. These languages are foreign to most of us, and there are things lost in translation. Understanding this and learning a little bit about the culture of biblical times can go a long way in helping us to bridge this gap.
2. The Bible was Written a Long Time Ago
The Bible was written over a long period of time, but even the very last book came into being almost 2000 years ago. The world was a different place then, and people wrote differently. It takes time and effort on our part to learn how to read things that were written back then, as the biblical authors had their own styles that were contemporary with their times.
3. The Bible Has Layers of Meaning
The Bible is packed with truth that relates to everyone. This fact is true now and has always been true. No matter how many times you read the Scriptures, God still reveals new truths. Hebrews 4:12 reads, “For the word of God is alive and powerful” (NLT). The Scriptures work within our lives to bring about real change. The Bible is never stagnant.
Ask God to help you hurdle the obstacles that stand in the way of you reading your Bible consistently. If you seek Him, He will lead you to develop a Bible reading routine that will take your faith to new heights!
