I just don’t understand it. I read it, but it doesn’t totally make sense to me.

I hear people say that the Bible changes their lives. Great, but it’s not like that for me. What am I doing wrong?

These are comments I have heard from people who love God, but struggle with feeling that the Bible is hard to understand, or perhaps it just seems to relate to a different time or a different generation. 

Reading the Bible can be absolutely life transforming. 

Years ago I taught a group of teens. Most of them had been in church their entire lives. I brought a handful of blank journals to class and we started a journey of discovering the Bible on a personal level. 

I delighted in watching these teens fall in love with the Bible for the first time. It was exciting to see them take what they learned and apply it in real life.  

This was the invitation: 

• Begin with one or a few scriptures

Put aside chapter requirements. If you read 10 chapters but it doesn’t change your heart, or you don’t remember what your read, it isn’t fruitful. 

Concentrate on that one portion. 

You do that by learning as much as you can about it  (Sometimes this information is on the first page of each book of the Bible. But if not, there are great resources such as www.studylight.org or www.BibleGateway.com or EnduringWord.com that offer all kinds of Bible commentaries, helps, etc.)

For example, the book of Ephesians was written by Paul the Apostle. He wrote it to the church of Ephesus while he was in prison in Rome.

The church of Ephesus was founded by Paul. He had visited there and witnesses great spiritual hunger. They had erected temples and idols to all types of gods. The largest was the temple of Diana.

He wrote this to encourage the new church. He wanted them to understand the difference between their former lifestyle and serving a living God. 

• Read that scripture or passage with what you’ve learned in mind

Many times scripture is taken out of context and becomes confusing because people read one verse and make it a religious statement or doctrine, rather than understanding why it was written.

Ephesians 1:15- 20  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Paul is sharing that God’s power is incomparable! No idols can compete with a living God. And his power, which is greater than we can ever imagine, is given to us as we walk with Him. Why exchange something so valuable and so alive for something of such little value, such as an idol? 

• Underline key words or phrases

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Paul wanted the new church to have a heart understanding of the power that God offered those who believed in Him. It is bigger than we can ever understand in the natural. It isn’t just for the church of Ephesus, but for the times ahead. For you. For me.

• How do these scriptures apply to you today?

What kind of idols do we serve in place of God?

Do we understand what it means to truly know God? Do we understand what is offered to those who believe?

How does this change our perception of living in faith?

• Read the verses in other versions, as needed.

I always study more than one version.

Sometimes The Message or the New Living Translation brings the meaning of a scripture to life.

If I don’t understand a verse, I don’t skip over it. I may study only one scripture that day, but I want to fully understand what it means before I move on.

This is only a couple of ways that the Bible can come to life for you. It challenges us. Encourages and inspires us. It equips.