I’m sitting in the corner of the library. I’ve been essentially camped out here this entire past weekend, jamming to my “Thoughtful” (ha) playlist, and I’ve been systematically taking apart a passage in 1 Corinthians for a research paper. It’s been awesome to survey the text and interpret the Word of God — and getting a GRADE for it! This is one of the reasons I am so blessed to be in Bible college. 

However, I’ve been realizing more and more how little time I actually have to process the Word of God, differing perspectives, and other things I’ve learned this semester. Life hits hard and fast; it seems to be speeding up every day, and I just don’t have enough time to chew on every conversation, chapel speaker, lecture, and devotion. I think that’s why I’m enjoying this time working on this passage, because I wish I could do this with everything in my life (especially things I’m hearing about the Bible in general, whether in class or through the mouth of a prof). 

My tendency is to jump to application. How can I live this out? What do I need to change? How can I teach this to others? What’s the relevancy? Snap, snap, snap my fingers looking for the bottom line. In my desire to quickly readjust my life in order to live a more God-honoring walk, I easily forget to appreciate the biblical text for what it is and enjoy the studying of the Word. I am called to study and “let the Word of Christ dwell in [me] richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16). Running to the main point prevents that deep-seated dwelling, that chewing and thinking and meditating process.

If I eliminate interpretation, I get a wad of jumbled nothing. I am obligated as a student of the Word to faithfully exegete the Scriptures and not simply brush aside the study portion. 

Taking my time to soak in the Word instead of attempting the firehouse approach is a lot more worthwhile.

“Study it carefully, think of it prayerfully, deep in thy heart let its oracles dwell; slight not its history, ponder its mystery, none can e’er prize it too much or too well.”  ~Author Unknown.

Let’s read the Word with utmost reverence and devotion. And take our time to look, to really look.

The Word never returns void. Isaiah 55:11.