Reading the Bible is a participation sport
Reading.
It’s one of those things that’s quietly slipping away from our culture. In a world of social media posts, constant distraction, and instant gratification, the simple act of sitting down with a book has become rare.
A while back, I set a goal for myself: read at least 30 minutes a day, on average, each week. Not as a race to see how many books I can plow through, but as a way to slow down and find nourishment for my mind and soul.
For too many years of my adult life, I was focused on the number of books I could read in a year but was missing the point. I was consuming but not retaining. I needed a shift in my approach.
Reading is like eating.
We all know that food is essential—it fuels our bodies and gives us the energy we need to live. But there’s a difference between eating mindlessly and eating with intention.
When we eat slowly, savoring each bite, we allow our bodies to absorb the nutrients, bringing energy and vitality to every part of us. Similarly, this kind of reading makes you pause, reflect, and maybe even write some notes in the margins.
Now, I’m not trying to win an Olympic medal in speed reading; instead, I’m learning to read slowly and think deeply.
[Related reading: How to find your secret place]
What if we approached reading the Bible the same way?
In the middle of the book of Revelation, the author, John, has an exchange with an angel about a scroll that he wanted to keep.
“So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.” (Revelation 10:9-10)
This word picture should get our attention to use our imagination.
Take it. Eat it. Beware that it starts sweet and, when swallowed, may become bitter as you absorb it.
The Bible is unlike any other book.
It’s not just a collection of words on a page; it’s a living, breathing text that invites us into a relationship with God.
Eugene Peterson, a prolific author of more than thirty books, once said that writing a book is about ordering words in a purposeful way so that they make sense, carry meaning, and tell a story.
The Bible does exactly that—but on a divine scale. These holy words – spoken and listened to, written and read – are intended to do something in us, give health and wholeness, vitality and holiness, wisdom and hope.
We don’t grow spiritually by picking and choosing our favorite verses or interpreting Scripture through the lens of our own preferences. We grow by consuming the balanced diet of God’s word, allowing the Holy Spirit to plant it deeply within us.
The Bible isn’t just a series of disconnected stories you can cherry-pick for life hacks. It’s one grand narrative, telling us how the human race came to be in its current state and how God, through Jesus Christ, is making all things new. It’s a story of grace, not a call to “do better” or climb some moral ladder to reach God.
In fact, the Bible repeatedly reminds us that God’s grace is for the weak, the undeserving, and the ungrateful. It’s for people like you and me, who often miss the mark but are still invited into God’s redemptive story. This grace sustains us, nourishes our souls, and gives us hope.
Reading the Bible is a participation sport.
Reading the Bible, then, becomes more than just a task to check off our list. It’s a way to draw closer to God, to hear His voice, and to be transformed by His truth. It’s about slowing down, paying attention, and letting the words we read shape us from the inside out.
Read it. Eat it. Let the Holy Spirit plant it deep in your hearts. Apply it by assimilating it into your life.
The promises are sweet, the truth may hurt, but God’s grace is present to help you grow.
Life is a gift!
— Matt