Mar 6, 2012
Bored with the Bible?
How can we be bored?
After all, God promises that His Word will —
— strengthen faith (Rom 10:17)
— revive our souls (Psa 19:7)
— bring hope (Rom 15:4)
— break sin’s power (John 8:31-32)
And yet too often we’re bored with it.
A quote that has helped me
John Wesley was an itinerant preacher who planted hundreds of churches and saw thousands brought to faith in 18th-century England.
Here’s a quote from Wesley which God has used many times to wake me up to what I have in God’s Word —
“To candid, reasonable men, I am not afraid to lay open what have been the inmost thoughts of my heart.
“I have thought, I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air.
“I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God: Just hovering over the great gulf; till, a few moments hence, I am no more seen; I drop into an unchangeable eternity!
“I want to know one thing – the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore.
“God himself has condescended to teach the way: For this very end he came from heaven.
“He hath written it down in a book.
“O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God!
“I have it: Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be [a man of one book].”
(From John Wesley’s “Preface” to the Standard Sermons.)
Take-aways
- We are all headed towards an eternal destiny — either forgiveness of sins and the joy of knowing God — or punishment for sins apart from God (Matt 25:46).
- In great mercy God has told us how we can be forgiven for our sins and enjoy His love now and forever (Heb 1:1-2).
- The way God told us was by coming down from heaven in the person of Jesus Christ — and having the truth about Jesus written down in a book (John 20:30-31).
- The Bible you hold in your hands is that book — telling you how to land safe on the happy shore of heaven (2Tim 3:15).
- When you think of eternity, being forgiven for all your sin, and coming to know your Creator — the knowledge found in the Bible is infinitely more valuable than billions of dollars (and that’s an understatement) (Psa 119:72).
How did this impact you?
I’d love to hear. Leave a reply below.
Do you know someone who would be helped by reading this? Email it to them using the “share” button — or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
If you would like to receive a Saturday email summarizing the previous week’s posts, subscribe here. (I am committed to protecting the privacy of your email address.)
Here’s more resources on this topic —
- How George Muller read God’s Word
- Not motivated to read God’s Word?
- Don’t face the lion without your sword
- How George Whitefield read God’s Word
- Tough time reading the Word this morning
(Picture is by cnu on stockxchng.)
Steve,
This is a lovely quote from John Wesley and your take-aways stand out with spot-on Scriptures.
Though I have no problems to read the Bible, I am thankful for the reminder that I never outgrow my need for fighting the fight of faith referring to Scriptures which reveal God’s promises for us.
You said, “The Bible you hold in your hands is that book — telling you how to land safe on the happy shore of heaven.” This sentence and the Bible verse you mentioned here (2 Tim 3:15) was the help I needed today, since I am struggling at the moment to stay on my way, not letting my heart turn aside, not straying into enticing paths, not deviating neither to the left nor to the right.
Thank you very much for this helpful posting, Steve.
Susanne
Susanne,
Thank you again for your encouraging words. I am thankful to the Father that this post encouraged you.
And you are so right that we never, ever outgrow the need to fight the fight of faith so we trust more deeply in God’s promises.
Keep fighting, sister!
Steve
Hi. Thank you so much for this post. Just a couple of things:
1. I think you meant Romans 10:17 (not 18) when talking about the Word strengthening faith 🙂
2. I have this problem often: the awesome news about God doesn’t hit me hard. I mean, for example, the quote was a blessing and gave me new, fresh insight, but didn’t really awaken an emotional response, as it probably did for you (“God has used many times to wake me up to what I have in God’s Word”). What do I do about this? I really want to feel the glory of God’s Word and of Jesus in his Word, but it doesn’t hit me 🙁
Thanks, again.
Hi Oswin,
Thanks for catching my mistake — I changed the post to read Rom 10:17 🙂
And thank you for your honesty about not feeling the glory of God’s Word. I also struggle with a heart that too often feels dull towards God’s Word.
But I’ve been encouraged that the psalmist had to pray Psa 119:36 (“Incline my heart to your word”), which shows that he had times when he was not drawn to God’s word. And the fact that he prays this shows that it’s God’s will that we all pray it, which means God will answer.
So I would encourage you to pray Psa 119:36 earnestly, along with Luke 11:13. Ask God to pour His Spirit upon you. And then read God’s Word earnestly and diligently and expectantly. I am sure that as you do that you will have times when you feel the glory of God’s Word.
Let me know what God does —
In Christ,
Steve Fuller
Thanks for that encouragement and the relief that it’s normal 😛
Yeah, I do think I need to learn to read “expectantly” – something that I don’t know how to do yet.
By the way, I read your post on DesiringGod: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/five-promises-for-your-bible-reading-and-prayer
Really awesome! Thanks! God bless! (Y)
You are so welcome!
Cool quotes, great verses, but I’m just so bored with the bible. This is the first thing i found on google. I use to love to rise early and read Gods word eager to hear his voice and enjoy his presence, but it seems I don’t know where to read iv read it through multiple times and now in the morning I’m disturbed by bring nagged all morning and have no place got quiet, no place of rest, not even God. Life is seeming to get more and more shallow and less involved with Jesus and church. The I don’t care is coming out because of how frustrating it is that I can’t haven morning time with Jesus anymore.
I’m so glad you found this article, Blake. And thank you for sharing your heart and raising this question.
There’s no formula which will automatically remove boredom. But there are steps we can take which God promises to use to change our hearts — in His perfect timing.
So I’d start by praying earnestly — both confessing my boredom with the Bible, and pleading with the Spirit’s work to “incline my heart” to God’s Word (Psa 119:38).
Then I’d pray over God’s promises of what He will do in us through His Word. I’m pretty sure you are believing the lie that something else will satisfy you more than meeting Jesus in the pages of God’s Word. So pray for God’s help, and then set your heart on passages like Psalm 16:11; John 6:35 and 6:63; John 7:37-38.
Pray over God’s Word until you feel the Spirit freeing you from lies and strengthening your faith in the truth of God’s Word. As your faith is strengthened, your desire for God’s Word will grow.
At the same time — I’d start reading through the Bible systematically, using a Bible reading plan that gives you a couple different passages each day. The one I use is found here —
http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf
I’d pray Psa 119:36 and Psa 119:18 earnestly before reading, then continue praying as you read. It might also be good to have some trusted brothers pray with and for you about this.
Let me know what God does. As you seek Him, through Jesus, He will help you. He promises.
Steve Fuller
Thanks Steve, good verses. The psalm 119:38 and psalm 16:11. I’m gonna start on your reading plan. Last year I did the one year bible and completed it, then I just chose places I felt God wanted me. Now I’m just bored because I don’t have quiet to meditate on those amazing verses you sent me to, I just don’t think I’m soaking in the entirety of the scriptures I already know. I’m
Like a big Pharisee (not as smart tho) except know it and don’t live it or care about it. O wretched man I am.
I love your honesty, brother. And isn’t is glorious news that God Himself will change our hearts as we look to Him and His Word by faith?
Without His heart-changing power, I’d be toast.
Hate to bug you again, but this little blog is amazing man. I appreciate you doing this. I really like the bible plan you use. I just started today by opening with prayer from psalm 119:36,18 and John 6:63 and being real open with God about everything. You’ve helped a ton man, but last thing. Can I still contact you through this if I get in a tough spot again? And should I journal with my reading or just read? I used to journal but sometimes it felt like a chore to do and took away from the real point of reading to absorb.
Hey Blake,
So glad you are finding this blog encouraging — and I appreciate you letting me know.
Maybe the best way to contact me would be by posting something on the Forum page — that way others can benefit from our interaction, and others might help with their contributions as well.
And regarding journalling, I would only journal if it helps you absorb the truths of God’s Word — if it helps you meet Him in the truth of His Word.
Onward, brother!
Steve
I will remember that. Thank you and alright. Where is the forum? If I have more question
You can get to the Forums page by going to the top of this page and clicking where it says “Forums.” That will take you there — and the rest is fairly self-explanatory.
Great man thank you.
I can across a simular post a few weeks ago while searching for something else. This is great, however in the other post “Bored with the bible”, I thought the author mentioned something like, “I’m just another soul sharing the gospel and my time is short and I’ll soon be gone so while I’m here…” or I misread the John Wesley quote. I hope you get the idea, please help me. This quote was great too.