Marked for Life

Most American homes today have a Bible, but ironically, fewer than half of all American adults can name the four Gospels. And in a survey about Americans’ knowledge of the Bible, most participants could name all four Beatles, but they couldn’t name one of the Ten Commandments.

But it gets worse. One in 10 people thought Moses was one of Jesus’s 12 apostles. In addition, 12 percent of American adults thought that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. And 50 percent of graduating high school seniors thought Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

Although many people own a Bible, they don’t read the Bible. The number one reason people give for not reading the Bible is they don’t prioritize it. And if they do read it, they’re reading without any comprehension.

However, we would be better off reading 10 verses from the Bible with comprehension than reading 10 chapters without grasping what we’re reading.

The Bible often uses the word meditate. This has nothing to do with the Eastern version of meditation, which is to clear the mind. The biblical meaning of meditation is “to ponder and consider.”

It’s sort of like chewing your food. When you meditate on Scripture, it helps you internalize it more deeply. Think about it. Consider it. Contemplate it. Take your time; don’t rush through it.

And if you want to take it to the next level, read your Bible multiple times throughout the day. The psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NLT).

It isn’t enough to go through the Word of God; the Word of God needs to go through you. It isn’t how you mark your Bible; it’s how your Bible marks you. So let God’s Word impact your life.