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Personal Devotional Bible Study

The Bible is not an end in itself, but is a means to the end of knowing God and doing His will. The apostle Paul said, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). God has given us the Bible in order that we might know Him and that we might do His will here on earth.

Therefore, devotional Bible study is the most important kind of Bible study. Devotional Bible study means reading and studying the Word of God I order that we may hear God’s voice and that we may know how to do His will and to live a better Christian life.

A great scientist and medical doctor, Howard A. Kelly (Professor of Gynecology at Johns Hopkins University from 1889 through 1940), was also an avid student of the Bible. He once said: “The very best way to study the Bible is simply to read it daily with close attention and with prayer to see the light that shines from its pages, to meditate upon it, and to continue to read it until somehow it works itself, its words, its expressions, its teachings, its habits of thought, and its presentation of God and His Christ into the very warp and woof of one’s being.”

For your devotional reading and study of the Bible, here are several important, practical suggestions:

• 1) Begin your Bible reading with prayer (Psalm 119:18; John 16:13-15).
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  2) Take brief notes on what you read. Keep a small notebook for your Bible study (see number 4 below).
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  3) Read slowly through one chapter, or perhaps two or three chapters, or perhaps just one paragraph at a time. After reading, ask yourself what this passage means. Then reread it.
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  4) It is often very helpful in finding out the true meaning of a chapter or passage to ask yourself the following questions, then write the answers in your notebook:
  •   a) What is the main subject of this passage?
    •   b) Who are the persons revealed in this passage: Who is speaking?
            About whom is he speaking? Who is acting?
  •   c) What is the key verse of this passage?
  •   d) What does this passage teach me about the Lord Jesus Christ?
  •   e) Does this passage portray any sin for me to confess and forsake?
  •   f) Does this passage contain any command for me to obey?
  •   g) Is there any promise for me to claim?
  •   h) Is there any instruction for me to follow?

Not all these questions may be answered in every passage.

1. 5) Keep a spiritual diary. Either in your Bible study notebook mentioned above (number 2), or in a separate notebook entitled, “My Spiritual Diary,” write down daily what God says to you through the Bible. Write down the sins that you confess or the commands you should obey.
2. 
   6) Memorize passages of the Word of God. No one is ever too old to memorize the Word of God. Write verses on cards with the reference on one side and the verse on the other. Carry these cards with you and review them while you’re waiting on a train, standing in lunch line, and so on.

Other persons prefer to memorize whole passages or chapters of the Bible. A small pocket Bible will help you to review these passages when you have spare moments. One of the best ways is to spend a few minutes every night before going to sleep, in order that your subconscious mind may help you fix these passages of God’s Word in your mind while you’re asleep (Psalm 119:11).

To meditate means “to reflect, to ponder, to consider, to dwell in thought.” Through meditation the Word of God will become meaningful and real to you, and the Holy Spirit will use this time to apply the Word of God to your own life and its problems.

1. 7) Obey the Word of God. As Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The Bible has been given to us that we may live a holy life, well-pleasing to God. Therefore, God says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
2. 
   8) The Navigators, a group of men banded together just before World War II to encourage Bible study among Christian servicemen, developed a splendid plan for personal, devotional study.
1.   a) After prayer, first read the Bible passage slowly and silently; then read it again aloud.
2.   b)In a large notebook divide the paper into columns and head each column as follows:
        Chapter title, Key verse, Significant truth, Cross-references, Difficulties in this passage
        (personal or possible), Application to me, and Summary or outline of the passage.
        In each of these columns, write the information desired.

     Do not try to adopt all of these methods at once, but start out slowly, selecting those
     methods and suggestions that appeal to you. You will find, as millions of others have
     before you, that the more you read and study the Word of God, the more you’ll want to read it.

Excerpt written by Donald E. Hoke, D.D. for The Open Bible®                   
Copyright   1983,1985,1990,1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.