Explore the Bible—How I Read the Bible

Treasure Text: “In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14, NIV).

Gemma told Grandma about a time when she was with Mommy exploring a new park and they couldn’t find the place birds were kept. They had to stop and look at a park map to give them directions to get on the right path. It was funny because they had been going around in circles when the aviary was only a five-minute walk away.

Grandma laughed and said that sounds like some people who try to find God and His purpose and joy for their lives. Sometimes they look everywhere and try lots of things, but God is so close. They just need to read their Bibles. Many people think the Bible is too hard to read, that it is too complicated. Sometimes they don’t trust that the Bible is really God’s Word for them. Sometimes they think the Bible is just full of rules.

The best way to start exploring the Bible is to pray first. God’s Holy Spirit will help us understand what we read. When Jesus went back to heaven, He promised that He would send “the Spirit of truth” to be with us forever. “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things,” He said. (John 14:17, 26, NIV).

Dear Jesus, please help me today to understand what I am reading in Your Word the Bible.

Grandma told Gemma that she wished she could give her special Bible reading glasses so that when she put the glasses on she would see who God was and what He was like. If such glasses existed, they would show us that the most important thing about God is that He loves us. When we explore all the many words in the Bible, we need to wear our “God is love” glasses. It’s easy to see God’s love in these verse:

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them” (1 John 4:16, NIV). “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19, NIV).

The Bible’s key love message about God is that He sent His Son Jesus, to die for us: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:9, NIV).

God loves us so much that he will search for us like a shepherd searches for a lamb that has wandered away, become lost, and can’t find its way home. God is both the treasure map and the treasure.

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us, even though we don’t deserve it. Help us to see your love in everything we read in the Bible.

Let’s Talk
What other ways can you receive the Bible message other than reading?

Let’s Pray
Ask God to share His plan for your life as you faithfully study His word.

Let’s Make
Design and make some special Bible reading “God is love-glasses.” You could make these from cardboard and clear plastic or cellophane. Or you could make them from bending pipe cleaners.