Life Changing Scripture
Three Simple Steps to
A Life-changing Understanding of the Scriptures
As believers, we don’t just read or study the Bible to stimulate our intellect. We do it to change our lives—to become more like Jesus. In order for that to happen, however, it’s important that we understand what it is we’re reading and that we take specific steps to put what we learn into practice. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
Here are three simple steps that can help you better understand what the Bible says and make it part of your life.
1. What does it say? Before we try to interpret the Scriptures, we need to understand what they actually say. And yet, we sometimes approach the Bible with a preconception of what it says. We need to make a fresh start. One way to do that is to read a passage several times using different translations. That can keep us from glossing over words we’re too familiar with. It’s also important to make sure we actually understand the words we read. Language changes over time, so using a Bible dictionary to look up unfamiliar words or phrases can be very helpful.
2. What does it mean? This is where we get into interpreting what the Bible says. It’s important to take the passage in context. How does a particular passage fit into the rest of what the author is saying? Is the author or speaker using a metaphor? Are there other places in the Bible that discuss this same topic? They can help us understand what this passage means. What are the implications of the truths we discover?
3. What does it mean for me? This is where the Bible gets personal. This is the life-changing part of Bible study. What do we need to do? Remembering the words of James, how do we “do what it says”? Some believers have found the acronym SPECK to be very helpful is applying biblical truth to their lives.
S Is there a sin I should avoid?
P Is there a promise from God to claim?
E Is there an example I should follow?
C Is there a command I should obey?
Building Blocks for Understanding a Bible Verse
Have you ever noticed that some people just seem to get so much out of a single verse of Scripture? How does that happen? Are these people just “super spiritual”? Or is there something else involved?
One of the keys to a deeper understanding of what the Bible says comes from the spiritual discipline of meditating on the Scriptures. If that conjures up images of monk-like mystics staring off into space—think again. For the Christian trying to grasp the truth of the Bible it’s more like “chewing” on a passage over and over—or thinking about that passage from different angles and perspectives. Here are a few building blocks that can help you meditate more effectively on the Word of God.
sk questions. What is the context of this verse? What was being described in the verses surrounding this one? Are there words that need to be defined? Do the words have the same meaning now as they did when they were written? (For instance, the word “charity” is often translated as “love” in some translations.)
mphasize each word in the verse. Read the verse out loud and place emphasis on a different word each time. The results can be surprising!
n your own words. Restate the verse, putting it in your own words. It will help you to think about what the verse really means—and what it means for you.
ther verses. Can you find other verses that speak about the same topic? How do they complement or supplement what the original verse says?
se it. There’s a great quote that’s been attributed to D.L. Moody that says, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.” Think about how you can apply this verse to your own life. You may even want to memorize the verse and ask God to show you how to live it out.