From The Editor: Refreshing Rereading
Like most people, I sometimes fall out of the habit of reading my Bible every day. It tends to be when I’m feeling most worn down, physically and emotionally, that I realize how long it’s been since I opened the Good Book. At that point, I'll either search for something specific or I’ll pick up where I left off last time.
I love reading through the Bible; I’ve probably done so four or five times now. Every time I do, I pick a different translation to read. I do this for several reasons. If I just read the New International Version (NIV) then every time I hit a verse I learned in Sunday school or vacation Bible school as a kid, my eyes will glide over the text while my brain recites it by rote. I don’t absorb any information that way. If I read it in even a slightly different voice, my brain won’t have the opportunity to shift into autopilot, and I’ll actually read what it says.
I also love changing up the translation because it helps me hear the scriptures in a fresh way. Suddenly a passage I’ve heard hundreds of times means something completely different or has an underlying tone that I never noticed before. For example, this time through the New Testament I read the New Living Translation (NLT). I’ve always considered the gospel of John to be a little more poetic and enjoyable than the other gospels, but this time around felt entirely different. I heard Jesus’s frustration with the religious leaders at every turn, getting more and more impatient with every run-in. And the religious leaders simply sounded nervous, grasping at processes and logic in their decision-making rather than being the belligerent nay-sayers I typically hear about in sermons. It was an entirely new and surprising look into the minds of all those actually living the story.
Keeping the Word fresh is invigorating for my spiritual life. Every time I read through, I find God showing me something new. The first time I learned of the breadth and consistency of God’s character. The next time through I was fascinated by the history of Kings and Chronicles. The third time through I found so many specific stories impacting my heart. This time through I was surprised to notice the distinct voices of the writers, seeing events through their particular lenses and experiences.
God has given us such an incredible gift in making His Word so accessible to us. For many languages, we not only have easy access to the Bible, we have a plethora of translations to experience, allowing us to continually read with fresh eyes if we but have willing hearts.
I’ve just started back in Genesis, and I look forward to the discoveries God has in store for me this time through the most amazing collection of Spirit-breathed history, poetry, allegory, and correspondence humankind will ever have the honor to delve into.