If you’re like me, then sometimes it can be hard to know how to respond after reading a portion of the Bible. Maybe it was a crazy story of wars and prophets from thousands of years ago, or a poem for singing on the way to the temple, or a parable from Jesus, or a letter between two early church leaders. It can be all too easy to just skim through, scratch our head and then move on with our day without much more thought or opportunity for God to speak to us.
“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.”
– George Müller
George Müller was a well known evangelist in England in the 1800s. Among other things he provided care for 10,000 orphans and started 117 schools which educated over 120,000 children. When he read the Bible he used six questions to help him glean more from what he read. Two centuries later these six questions can help us too as we seek to let the Holy Spirit give us greater insight into God and his word.
“Now what is food for the inner man?…the Word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering it over and applying it to our hearts.”
– George Müller
Whatever portion of God’s great story you’re reading try these questions out next time you open your Bible and ask God to speak to you and give you greater understanding:
George Müller’s 6 Questions
1. Is there any example for me to follow?
2. Is there any command for me to obey?
3. Is there any error for me to avoid?
4. Is there any sin for me to forsake?
5. Is there any promise for me to claim?
6. Is there any new thought about God himself?
