I had just sat down after performing our nightly gymnastics of putting our three children to bed. Between pajamas, teeth, stories, and a sudden need to ask every question known to man, this routine always leaves my husband and I exhausted. The sounds of our two oldest talking made me anticipate several more trips back to settle critical arguments about Thomas the train or to revive them from near dehydration.
Still, I tried to be productive and open up my Bible for my daily reading.
That New Year I had committed to studying the Bible through a reading plan which chronologically progressed through the Old Testament while including New Testament passages each day.
I won’t lie, I wasn’t very eager to read that night.
I had spent the last several weeks chugging along through Leviticus, and the task was proving much harder than I imagined. The laws were very detailed and everything seemed repetitive. I was growing a little tired of reading about sprinklings, ceremonies, buckets of blood, and the burning of animal flesh.
I finished my Old Testament reading and leafed my way to the second half of the Bible to pick back up in Hebrews. As I started to read, my rhythm slowed and the chatter of my children faded from my attention. Each phrase passed before my eyes, and I eagerly waited with anticipation to find out what would come next.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
I had heard these words so many times, but that night it was as if they were brand new. All those rules and offerings of Leviticus were no longer just parts of history, but in that moment they were my history. I marveled as if I were a Jewish woman sitting in that gathering hearing these words for the first time and feeling incredible hope. With a deeper joy, I marveled at the truth that Jesus’s sacrifice was complete, eternal, and final.
While I was caught off guard that evening, God was not surprised. God tells us that Scripture is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). When we open up the Word of God to read, to study, and to learn, we open a living book. A book where every page tells of our glorious God and proclaims the beauty of Jesus. A book that is accessible to us, whether we never attended school, or whether we have a Ph.D. – because of the active work of the Holy Spirit guiding us.
The trouble is, we often want great emotional realizations every time we open the Bible. In reality, God is using every piece of our study to slowly deepen our understanding and knowledge of Him. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God’s Word shall not return empty, but it will succeed in accomplishing His purpose.
Even as we labor through the passages that don’t seem to make sense, the ones that are difficult, or the parts that just seem boring – God is working.
He’s taking each day of reading and building it, block upon block, until one day our eyes are opened to something we never saw right in front of us. Sisters, let’s dig deep through those difficult passages and difficult days. Each word is precious, each word is purposeful, and our great God is working in our hearts and minds through each one of His words.
Leave a Comment
Michele Morin says
Perfect words for me this morning, Brianna, as my husband and I slog through Leviticus together. So much metal and sea cow hides; so much finely twisted linen. Thanks for reinforcing the Truth that all of this was merely a picture of a great salvation that was still in the future, but which is now part of our story. Blessings to you!
Brianna Lambert says
Michele,
I am so glad it was encouraging! Yes what a beautiful picture of his grace- and since writing this I have even found such beauty in the protection and care some of these rules given to his people at the time. They also remind us of the seriousness of our sin which makes the cross so much sweeter.
We will keep pressing on together, what a gift God gives us in his word!
Carla M. Beam says
Well said!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Brianna,
I echo yours and Michele’s comments. I set upon reading through the Bible again as well. This is a little different plan, but still takes you through the Old Testament first. Whether slogging through Leviticus or listening to Job drone on and on….I see hints everywhere of the Redeemer to come. Knowing how the “story” ends, it’s fun to see hints of it all throughout the Old Testament. I love the foreshadowing all throughout these older chapters in our history and then to see it envelope and come to fruition is truly awe inspiring. I love your message of “hang in there…the greatest part is yet to come.” Living Word, indeed!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Brianna Lambert says
Bev,
My thoughts as well! What a gift God has given us. I am truly humbled to read something over and over yet still learn and process in ways I never realized. What a joy to know we will never tire of learning more of who our Savior is!
Louise says
thank you for the daily encouragement…sometimes isolation creeps in, even though there are people all around!
His WORD reinforces daily how blessed we are to have each other and HIS WORD!
JC_Unlimited
Kendra burton says
That is my trouble: I think I have to have the big emotional moment. If I’m not moved to tears or sitting stunned by a realization, I think it’s less than, but you are right. God is working. Thanks for the reminder.
Brianna Lambert says
Kendra,
Yes, I am so thankful and must remind myself often of the work he is doing in me, even if it seems hard to see (Philippians 1:6 is always brought to my mind!). In the most difficult days of reading what helps me is asking questions like, what does this say about who God is? What does this say about who I am? Maybe they don’t give us an epiphany at the moment, but they build upon each other and inform our views as we seek to understand and know our Savior.
Thankful to be faithfully learning and growing along with you! 🙂
Lynn D. Morrissey says
This made me smile on several levels, starting with nighttime gymnastics! I’d never heard those rituals so aptly expressed. You brought back fun (and interesting!) memories of raising our daughter. . . . the bedtime stories she never wanted to end, the many requests for water, etc. (My real gymnastics with her, however, occurred later, as I tried to “wrestle” her into a tutu for those dancing lessons; but I digress). For a number of years now, not being in a specific Bible study, I have read the Bible through in a year, often in a one-year Bible. But this year, I’m employing one of Ligonier’s reading plans, taking my time as I go through larger sections of the OT, then switching to smaller sections of the NT, and back again. And guess what? Today I start Leviticus! How timely is your post. I had started to find the second half of Exodus tedious, and was relieved to move on temporarily to Matthew. It’s not that I don’t relish the OT. I do–many sections of it. But like you, I anticipated a Leviticus letdown. Still, even as I read those places in Exodus, God reminded me of all they symbolized–of the rich truths to which they pointed. So yours is a very timely post for me, and I will pray that God will remind me of the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice and that now there is no need for bulls and blood. He paid the final sacrifice for my sin (and yes, this, too, is sobering for me to realize why He paid that price). That should make any believer smile. And finally, Brianna, I smiled because I love your name. Your parents did well! 🙂
Blessings,
Lynn
Brianna Lambert says
Lynn,
Your comment made me smile as well!! I know I will look back on the bedtime gymnastics and miss them too 🙂 And yes, oh, what a Savior we have!!! Even hearing you write makes me smile, sobering indeed, yet such a cause to rejoice. I just love how each year we get older, each year we read more and more we just get to behold his beauty deeper and deeper! 🙂
Thanks for blessing me with your words!
MaryMargaret says
This is an encouragement to keep reading the Bible!! Thank you!!
Brianna Lambert says
Oh I’m so glad! Thank you 🙂
Ruth Lovegrove says
What a blessing! Thank you!
Brianna Lambert says
I’m so thankful it was a blessing Ruth!
Beth M Negrey says
Thank you God for your Living Word in your living book! Amen and Amen! <3
Brianna Lambert says
Amen!
Beth Williams says
Brianna,
I have read through the Bible several times. Each time something new comes alive. I also do Bible studies at church. That helps me understand the word better. God uses everything to deepen our understanding of who He is and how He works. I have come to understand this: God uses imperfect people for His Kingdom. It is ok to “slog” through some books of the Bible. Just make sure you are reading it daily. Reading devotions, watching TV preachers has also helped me understand the Bible better.
Blessings 🙂
Brianna Lambert says
Thanks for the words! Yes, so thankful for God’s word he gives us in the Bible! May we forever be a student who works to continue to study and learn it!
Nancy Ruegg says
I appreciate your affirmation that we mustn’t set up unrealistic expectations to experience epiphanies every day during Bible study. You are right: “God is using every piece of our study to slowly deepen our understanding and knowledge of Him.” Amen, Brianna!
Brianna Lambert says
Thank you Nancy for the kind words! And yes, how sweet his word is when we faithfully study it! 🙂
Birdie Cutair says
Yes, I doing the Leviticus thing right now, too. And then I turned to the Psalm for the day and read, “You take no delight in sacrifice or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, ….I take joy in doing your will , my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” It is so wonderful to read both the Old Testament and the New along with a Psalm and Proverb for the day. It all seems to then come together for me.
Brianna Lambert says
I love that!! What a sweet reminder! I just love how all of scripture weaves together so purposefully! Thanks for sharing!
Pearl Allard says
Brianna, you had me at “nightly gymnastics.” Yes ma’am. Aptly put! 🙂 I loved your message to have realistic expectations of how God teaches us, how He builds our faith in the trudging through the difficult and sometimes *ahem* boring passages. He is boring holes into our hearts to hold the love He wants to pour into them. And how sweet that is. One of the most freeing passages in all of scripture, for me personally, came from trudging through Numbers. It’s been awhile since I remembered that. Thank you. And thanks for this beautiful post!
Brianna Lambert says
Love your comments, thanks for sharing them! And I am glad to see there are others who know the nightly routine struggles 🙂
Rebecca Jones says
I used to hate reading all that, but knowing Jesus was that Lamb and offering and comparing it to what He went through made me think again, And I used to pass through names all ” ites “,but I like Hebrew word studies.
Brianna Lambert says
Love this! Yes I love getting into the word studies too. 🙂
Rochelle says
I love this! Thank you so much for your words of encouragement.