How Do You Read Your Bible?

Do you read the Bible hoping to learn something to share with someone?

Do you read your Bible in order to learn what you must do?

Do you read your Bible in order to maintain some sense of "Holiness"?

I used the read Bible the last way. Just read my Bible, a chapter a day, that should keep the Devil away.

Yet the Bible is no longer about rules and regulations, because the entire law has been fulfilled and abolished in the Cross:

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; " (Ephesians 2: 15)

and

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

The Book of  Hebrews could not be more crystal clear about what the Bible is really all about:

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (Hebrews 10: 1)


A lot of believers are not getting much out of their Bible studies because they are looking for rules and regulations. They are looking for tips on how to live, instead of receiving more of Life Himself!

"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

"And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ." (2 Corinthians 3: 12-14)

If we look at the examples in the Bible in order to find tips on how to live, then we will find ourselves frustrated. Those Old Testament individuals did not have the Holy Spirit living in them, whereas we are fully endowed with the Spirit of God:

"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (unction is "anointing")(1 John 2: 20)

and

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)

So, unfortunately, to the degree that we are reading the Bible with an intent toward trying to earn something instead of realizing what we have -- Christ and all His blessings, then the Word of God remains unable to grace us:

 "But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

"Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 15-18)

If we are reading the Bible in order to get laws, which Moses represents, then the Bible will remain a closed book to us. If we are reading the Bible with a "law mentality", then we will have a veil on our hearts, which blocks the life of Christ Jesus from being ministered to us. It is the Spirit of God which takes away this veil, the same Spirit whom we frustrate if we do not rest in Him and let Him minister to us.

Let's be simple and sensible -- everything in the Old Testament speaks of types and shadows, all of which are culminating in the substance, Christ Jesus.

How many times does Paul tell his readers that they have everything that they need in Christ Jesus? The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus (John 1: 17)

If we want truth, we want grace, we need to receive His unmerited favor, and we find all of that in the Son of God!

Every day that you read your Bible, ask God to open your eyes and show you all that you have in Christ Jesus. Ask Him to reveal to you more of His Son, and watch Him transform your life.