At what age did you earnestly start to read the Scriptures? What motivated you?
My answer ---------------
I have several answers--don't I always?!--I became interested in reading the more friendly parts of the Bible--let's say the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, around the age of eight. Around ten or eleven, I ventured into parts of the Old Testament--Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings. Around fourteen or fifteen I ventured into some of the more intimidating (to me) books like Isaiah, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Job, Jeremiah, etc. But there were a few books like Leviticus and Ezekiel that I didn't brave until I was eighteen or nineteen! I read the bible through for the first time around my freshman year in college. And I've been reading it all ever since.
As to what motivated me, it was passion, obsession, and curiosity. I loved reading bible story books as a child. Loved spending time with my mom. I went to a christian school, and in elementary school, bible time was one of my favorite parts of the day. In early grades, teachers had these huge picture cards--and there was text they'd read along and ever-so-often they'd change pictures. Anyway, the whole affair had me a bit mesmerized. But I really and truly got swept away in third grade. I had a teacher who drew stick-figure bible stories on the chalk board. I can't remember where we started. But I know we were doing history books in the Old Testament. The stories I loved best were about Elijah and Elisha.
And at home we had "The Book for Children" with its flashy red cover. These were short little snippets--not actual verses or anything--that told stories from the Old Testament and the New Testament. But even more importantly, my mom and I would read the bible together side by side. I'll save the story of my first bible for another day. But needless to say, there was a passion and desire to read the Bible early on...
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible
3 comments:
I didn't start reading the Bible until I was in my 30's. I had always seen it as very boring until I started hanging out with people who showed me how it full of great stories. So I fell in love with the stories. (Of course the stories are all about a great truth.)
Then I got interested in origin of the scriptures and all the controversies and arguments. I love controversies and arguments so that attracted me also.
I started reading the bible from a very young age - my mother sent me to Sunday School even though she rarely went to church herself. I was in my teens when I started reading it for myself
I was the kind of kid who always wanted to do what was right (I know, it was weird and it made other people hate me!) So as a teen I began having daily devotions and rarely missed for the next few decades. Honestly, it was often out of a sense of duty, but I stuck with it. About four years ago I learned to study the Bible inductively which really made it come alive. It's given me a whole new passion for God's word. I used to "read" the Bible. Now I "study it to be transformed". Quite a difference!
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