Is Reading the Bible like Eating Desert Dust to You?
Since 1992 it has been my privilege to read through my Bible in various translations every year. Sometimes it is straight through from cover to cover. Sometimes it is chronologically. Sometimes I have had the time to do it twice or three times in a year. I try to read the KJV every other time so I remember how to talk that way.
This is not to boast of spirituality or anything else.
It began with a challenge to read it through in 55 hours. I was a scoffer, so I timed myself the first time through. 57 hours. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be.
When I was a teen, our church used the “Pro-Teens” youth program by Positive Action for Christ. I remember hearing Frank Hamrick’s description of beginning Bible reading as being something like eating desert dust at the beginning, then improving to being like bland oatmeal. But as he continued it became sweet like eating peaches and cream.
I had a similar experience at first. It was drudgery – a chore – an obligation. But praise the Lord! God’s Word has become my delight (except for Ezekiel – that book is still hard).
I just finished it today in the KJV again. I’ll start again tomorrow in the NASB Interactive Inductive Study Bible. Can’t wait to see what else I discover about myself, about the world, and most importantly about my God!
Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (KJV)
It’s true! I challenge you to start eating the desert dust, and watch it change you.
Dan Pelletier is the pastor of Hamilton Square Baptist Church in San Francisco, CA.
Photo by Keith Hardy on Unsplash