Reading the Bible, 7/25/1999

The best way to read the Bible is to read the Bible, the whole Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Read it word by word, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book.
Do not read just a page here and there. Do not read just a verse here and there. But read the whole Bible. Read the words of comforts as well as the pronouncements of curse and prophecies of coming judgments. Read the words of grace and the words of righteousness. Read and allow the words to speak to our heart.
It is dangerous to start with a pre-conceived idea, and then go to the Bible, pick up a verse here, another verse there, and put them together to justify the idea. This is how someone may end up with a heresy! One can justify just about any doctrine and teaching if one were to do that. No! We must drop our concepts and let the Word speak to us. We must not use the Bible to justify our ideas and conducts, but instead we must read it with the willingness to be taught. Let its thoughts illuminate our thoughts and our conducts, let its concepts correct our concepts; let it bring us face to face with God Himself.