A few years ago I was reading the Bible through and I was struggling with some of the less riveting books. You know the ones: Leviticus, Numbers, Nahum, books like that.
Anyway, I was talking about my frustrations with some seasoned church goers one Sunday morning. They were nodding their sympathies, commiserating with the woes of Bible study, when a new believer approached our conversation. This guy is not what you’d call a theological scholar; he’s a country boy who hasn’t attempted proper grammar since 12th grade English. A wild streak from earlier days left a tattoo on one arm, and a repaired tooth that glitters when he smiles. And ever since he’s turned to follow Christ, he’s been smiling a lot.
I filled him in on the topic of conversation then asked for his input.
“You read scripture a lot, how do you manage those tedious books that are so difficult to read?”
He scratched his chin, looked down at his feet, and then laughed a little space-filler laugh.
“Well, you see,” he said, blushing a little bit, “Ever’ time I set down to read my Bible, I say a prayer before I start. I just ask God to teach me a little something from what I’m reading. And every single time, he does.”
Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. John 16:24
