Bible Study Time / Reading Time ~ A Need for Both


In April (2011) I finished my 8th time reading completely through the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments of the Authorized King James Version) and started my 9th time through in May. These were eight purposely recorded times, so I’m not just guessing that I’ve read the Bible enough to call it eight times through, I actually did.

I don’t say that to be bragging, to be honest, I’ve been saved more than 40 years and I should be able to say I’ve completely read through the entire Bible more than that. So, this post is not about bragging, it’s about encouraging one another.

If you’re like me, you study your Bible often because you have a Sunday School lesson to prepare for, or you have a devotion to give at a Ladies Fellowship, or somebody asked you a Bible question that you’re seeking an answer for, but I often used my Bible study time to count as my Bible reading time, after all, it’s pretty much the same thing... right? And that’s the mistake I think too many Christians make.

Bible study time is not the same as Bible reading time... yes, you have to read to study... but when you study, your mind is focused on one particular topic, unlike when you read and your mind is open to different topics and thoughts. We need to do both, read and study the Bible. There have been many times that the passages of scripture I was reading for the day, were just what I needed for the topic of study I was preparing for, and it could have been missed if I was studying without reading.

I hope you have been encouraged... but I really hope you have been challenged by this posted.

God bless.

2 comments:

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

You are so right -- and there's a time for both. Unfortunately, we most often neglect the study, which provide growth and fruitfulness. Set aside some specific time to study. It's worth it!

Jane’s Journey from Kenya said...

Thank you Grammy Blick and God bless. ~ Jane