What’s Inside is What Really Matters

Time to Open

“Look at that . . . paperback, hardcover, and imitation leather. Mmm . . . I can smell ’em,” I think to myself. “They have a distinctive fragrance.” Of course, I’m talking about a stack of Bibles on my desk and even though they come in different shapes, sizes and covers, I know that it’s what’s inside is what really matters. “Stop staring Paul. It’s study time, so it time to open them.” It’s study time indeed, but what first needs to be studied?

Whenever we open our Bible we can easily get overwhelmed. (In part, that’s why I wrote The Search for Home and its related website, thesearchforhome.com.) The questions abound. How do we approach sixty-six books in a single volume? What tools should we use? Where do we begin? Genesis? The Psalms? Matthew? John? Here’s a couple more questions: Should we examine those Old Testament books with funny sounding names? Obadiah? Habakkuk? Should we study them? They seem so closed! How will we ever manage?

Now this is going to sound a little bit strange for those who know me . . . because I love to learn. Nevertheless, let me suggest that we begin by not opening our Bibles. Rather, let’s begin by opening ourselves. After all, what’s inside is what really matters. Let’s pause for a moment and think about that statement – what’s inside is what really matters.

If you agree, let me say that I’m not talking about simply being open to any thought or any idea that floats into our minds. Every day we are bombarded by images and words that are not in our best interest. So we certainly shouldn’t be open to them. Rather, I’m talking about opening the deepest part of ourselves to the voice of Jesus Christ.

Exactly How?

“But Paul, how do I accomplish that?” you might ask. “If I”m going to open myself up, shouldn’t I first focus on opening my mind?” If you like to read the Bible, I don’t think you have to worry about mental faculties. (We’ll get to some of those mental disciplines in later posts.) In all likelihood your mind is well prepared and very active already in its desire to grab and control the Biblical text. You might even have a personal theological agenda that might be helpful in some respect, but it might also prevent you from hearing.

Humble Prayer

So what do we do? Well, if we want to open our hearts, if we want to experience “what’s inside is what really matters,” we must begin with a prayer – a humble, thoughtful, pause-filled prayer. Something like this one:

“Lord, I don’t know how to read the Bible, but I do know that all my reading is for nothing if you don’t help me open my heart. I confess Jesus, I cannot open my heart by myself. I need you to help me do it. So would you open my eyes of faith so that I can begin to see? Would you work in the places I cannot feel? Will you soften the most hidden parts of my self so that your Word can penetrate? This requests frightens me Jesus, because I’m asking you to take control. Nevertheless, I want my true self to hear you. That way when I read, I can be embraced by the love of the Father, I can hear the words of Jesus, and I can feel the touch of the Spirit. Thank you. Thank you for helping me.”

So much more can be said, but for a great resource on preparing ourselves to read the Bible, see Dr. Robert Muholland’s wonderful book called Shaped by the Word.. It can be found on Amazon: