I've been reading through 1 Peter this month and naturally stopped on the passage about husbands and wives. It's just so convicting!
"1 Peter 3: 1-7
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
Those who know me closely know that I have kind of a streak in me that isn't such a "quiet and gentle spirit" as the passage states. Man, after four years of marriage I am still learning and trying to follow the instructions of these words.
I've taken to the advice of a friend who told me that she doesn't just continue on reading chapter after chapter of the Bible just to finish it. She will take just a chapter a month and read it every day until it soaks in and actually causes a change in behavior.
I don't know why I hadn't realized this as an option before but wow, has it made a difference. I don't have to 'read through the Bible in a year' or even get through a book a month or anything. Especially if I don't understand it, what good will it do me? If I just take a chapter a month and read it over and over again until I really begin to understand what it is talking about, isn't that more beneficial (at least in my personal case)? I am not reading the Bible just to say I've done it. I am reading the Bible to become more like Jesus and grow closer to God. I am once again thankful for the placing of friends and family in my life who help to keep me accountable and a God who loves me even when I fail daily.
How about you, is there any method you have found to keep your Bible reading relevant? Please share!
God Bless,
KJA
I think this is a wonderful idea! Recently my husband and I decided to start reading the bible daily. We devised a plan that would help us finish reading it in a year, we would read tree or four chapters daily, and share our thoughts on what we read. However, I quickly realized that it would not be as easy as I thought. I had not anticipated some books and some chapters are harder than others, and extra investigation and meditation is needed. What I've been doing is reading a chapter, analyzing and meditating on it, and if I feel ready, I move on to the next chapter. If I'm not, I don't, and that's okay. Like you said, what good will it do me if I read it all, but I didn't fully understand it. I've realized it's probably going to take me a little over a year to finish reading it, but I'm okay with that. I hopping that by doing this, by the time I'm done, the happiness will be greater and the benefits everlasting.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the long comment, but I wish you the best of luck on your reading, and on any changes you make. :)
-Bedsaida