The Bible is not just a book to me. It is a meeting place where I go to meet personally with God – to hear his voice, to discover his character, to see his beauty in Christ, to know him & be known by him. This is why I believe it is important to have a personal physical Bible to aid our spiritual growth, in which we can underline & note things God reveals or speaks to us. One that we also bring with us when we gather as church to meet God. The thing I love about my physical Bible (compared to my virtual formats which I love...) is that IT IS ONLY A BIBLE. It does not have the distractions of my phone or Kindle, or a Tablet or Ipad. It’s a place I go to get away from these things, & everything, to know more of God.
Also, while the Bible is a meeting place it is not like any other place. For it is a meeting place I can carry with me anywhere & everywhere – in the car, on holiday, up a mountain, to the cafe, work & church etc. It is a Holy Book which can turn anywhere into a Holy Place because the Holy God is always near. It is a meeting place designed for all of life. For a busy mum it is a meeting place she can quickly run to when the children are finally content playing or watching TV. For the business man it is a meeting place he can go to at lunch time or between appointments... For the lorry driver it is a meeting place he can pull into as he travels... For the sick person it is a meeting place they can keep by their bedside in the hospital or home... because their hearts are inclined towards God.
See when we see the Bible as a meeting place it becomes more about knowing & discovering God than performing a religious duty or knowing more stuff. I have a confession to make: I have never read the Bible in a year... The reason is simple. I have resolved that I would far rather meet with God than rush by him... Reading the Bible in a year can be like driving through spectacular scenery at 100km per hour to me, why would you do that? No you want to go slowly & take it in. You want to take in the beauty & scenery you witness so you can take pictures & show others.
How about this year instead of making a resolution to read the Bible in a year we resolve to simply meet with God in his Word? This may result in it taking us a few years getting through the whole Bible, but I will tell you this! You will be less likely to give up, you will feel less of a failure after a month or two, & you will remember more, learn more, obey more, grow more, be captivated more, enjoy more, be changed more & know God more. For you will have met with him in such a way that you encounter the abiding presence of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit in your life. And when you meet with God in his Word you can’t wait until the next opportunity you get to open his Book.
By John Fitzsimmons
http://johnfitzsimmons.weebly.com