In April 2007 I was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic.  Ironically, I received call from my doctor with diagnosis as I was finishing a luncheon at church.  He called me about halfway through my second piece of coconut pie!

Since that time, I have gone through cycles where I managed my diabetes well and not so well. Bloodwork from the first of this year revealed worse readings since my diagnosis.  I realized some things needed to change drastically and quickly.

What had happened?  I had eaten in abundance what should I have eaten in moderation.  Conversely, I had eaten in moderation things that I should have eaten in abundance.  I settled too often for easy treats rather than wholesome choices.

Sadly, I believe many Jesus followers have treated our spiritual nutrition with the same neglect.  In my last blog, I lamented that much of what is called Bible study these days isn’t really Bible study.  It more resembles the regurgitated food a mommy birds feeds to her nestlings. Too many Christians spend more time reading what others write about the Bible than actually reading the Bible for themselves.  

Help for the Spiritual Diabetic

My goal – my passion – is to call believers back to The Word.  I have gained great insight from reading what others write about God’s Word. But those books are meant to supplement not supplant my personal Bible study.  

Let me be honest: personal Bible study is not as easy as reading somebody else’s Bible study.  But in the end, personal Bible study is way more beneficial and productive.  Consider Paul’s advice to his young friend Timothy:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Other translations render the phrase “do your best” as “study” or “be diligent.”  However you choose to translate the word, the idea is eagerly and urgently to exert effort toward something.  And the last line defines that effort as “rightly handling” God’s word.  This concept involves cutting lines straight and accurately measuring materials.

Our challenge is the same as Paul gave Timothy.  The one who makes the effort to read and understand God’s Word will find themselves unashamed servants in Jesus’ Kingdom.  If we settle only for the regurgitated Bible study of others, we will be spiritually malnourished.  But, when we feed ourselves from the deep riches of God’s Word we will grow strong and useful in our faith.

Calling All Spiritual Diabetics!

I hope you will consider making the effort to engage personal Bible study.  You don’t need seminary training or any special smarts to be a Bible student. If you are a believer, the author of the Bible – the Holy Spirit – dwells in you.  His role in our lives is to lead us teach us and lead us into truth (John 14:26 and John 16:13).

Over the next several weeks, I want to help you develop some skills at accurately looking into God’s Word for yourself.  I want to encourage you to plan for three necessities as you prepare to dig into the Bible.

First, you will need an optimal time.  You need not devote hours each day to the Bible, but you cannot rush through either. I think you can get a lot of personal Bible study in 30 minutes if you are willing to commit it. Pick a time of day when your brain is at its sharpest and your attention is focused.

Second, you will need an undistracted place.  Consider turning off your phone and electronic devices. (Yes, they may interfere with your brain’s navigational system!)  Find a place where  outside noise is minimal.

Third, you need an intentional plan. I’ll write more about this soon but come to God’s Word with an intentional approach.   Personally, I like to read through individual books of the Bible and study them verse by verse.  Doing so, you follow the author’s train of thought and see things more clearly in context.

One Last Request

That’s enough for today.  Will you at least ask God to give you a heart to know His Word more deeply?  Will you ask Him to give you both the desire and ability to feed yourself from His buffet table of Bible truth?