I reminded us yesterday that reading the Bible is a good thing. Moses charged future kings to do it…

• That they may learn to fear the Lord
• That they might carefully observe all the words of this law
• That their hearts may not be lifted up above their brothers
• That they may not turn aside from the commandment

All good reasons, but not the best reason. Those of us who have been taught to read the Bible, sometimes from an early age, tend to forget what it’s like not to have that privilege.

My wife, June, is a spiritual director, and she recently met with a directee in her 70s who is over the moon about reading the Bible meaningfully for the first time in her life. God is speaking to her. His presence is becoming real to her. She gave June a Christmas gift, a tea towel embroidered with the words:

It is well with my soul

When she gave it to June, she pointed to the words and said, “Because of you, it is well with my soul.” Raised in church, she had never been taught to read the scripture for herself to experience God. She gushed:

Praying the scriptures is amazing! Rest and wait. I now know that God loves me. I’m filling my mind with good things.

So if you asked this lady if it was an arduous task, a grit-your-teeth spiritual discipline to read the Bible, she wouldn’t understand the question. “Why wouldn’t I read the Bible every day!”

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. (Jeremiah 15.16, NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4.8, NIV)

PS If you haven’t read or don’t remember this three-blog series on the living word, I highly recommend it.