Why reading the bible is like kissing my wife.

[This is a guest post from my new friend Hans. He is the lead Pastor of Resolved church in Australia. He loves Jesus, the church and kissing his wife (obviously!). He has also requested that all comments begin with 'G'day mate'. Just kidding. Although that would be super funny if you all did that. Just saying.]

If you have been a Christian for a while you have hit that wall at least once. You know the wall, the one where it is too hard to read your Bible because it is just like reading any other book.

It is stale, cold and dry.

I have hit that wall many times. Sometimes I read through my favorite books of the bible and I get nothing.

Well I do get something.
I get depressed.

I want my encounters with God’s word to be amazing like they were when I first became a Christian. I don’t know about you but when I am in this funk I remind myself of two things:

God and I have a history
And
God is speaking.

1. History:

See, when I remind myself that God and I have a history, a relationship, I realize that the zing that Bible reading has will not be as strong as it was when I first read it.

I remember reading Galatians for the first time and cheering at certain points (maybe that is a little lame!). The book blew my mind!

But this weekend I am finishing up preaching on it for my church and I have read it as deeply as I can and new things did come out but that zing that I had when I first read is different.

I remind myself that reading my Bible is a bit like kissing my wife.

I remember when I first kissed my beautiful wife... sparks flew, planets collided etc. But now I kiss my wife and I don't have that same feeling because our relationship is in a different place.

This place is better and deeper.

So even though our dates and physical interactions may not have the same zing that they did when we first started going out, our relationship is deeper and more meaningful and each kiss draws us closer together and strengthens our relationship.

It connects us and shows how much we mean to each other.

With time comes depth, meaning your relationship with God is in a different place than it was when you first became a Christian.

It is deeper and richer.

Because It has withstood some painful moments and some times of doubt or despair, your relationship is different.

You read the Bible now to strengthen that relationship so that in five or ten years time when cancer sets in or a loved one dies, your relationship with God is strong and secure and is able to withstand the storm you are in.

2. Speaking:

My other reminder is that God is speaking!

Imagine God telling you what he thinks is important, what he loves, what he hates and most importantly, what he has done for you!

Well God has told you all those things in his word. This should change our attitude about reading his word!

If God is speaking I want to keep asking as I read his word “What is he saying to me? What does he want me to do?”. Having God speak to me is a massive privilege and I want to take advantage of it!

It is just like kissing my wife.

When it comes to kissing my wife I could think “We have kissed thousands of times. Ok, I guess I will do it again.” Or I could remember that I get to kiss the most beautiful woman in the world and therefore my outlook will change! I will be more passionate and more enthusiastic.

What is your attitude when it comes to reading your Bible?

Do you think “Man the God of the universe wants to speak with me! What an amazing privilege!”
Because that is what it is...

Its indeed an amazing privilege that God would speak to you and I.

Let’s not waste it.

Be honest, what one word best describes your current experience with Gods word? [exciting? boring? non-existent? Awesome? Inconsistent? routine? powerful? chore? e.t.c]

What do you do when you want to get out of the ‘I’m not getting anything out of this’ funk?

[I've never met hans in person but I know he is an incredible leader and brother in Christ. You can connect with him on twitter, face-book or his blog. You should also check out this video series his church is doing on sex. Regulars and new friends, please help me welcome Hans to the blog by diving in and having a conversation. G'day Mates :)]