Bible Reading: Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

“I’ve tried to get into the habit of reading my Bible every day,” Alanna said as she reached for a piece of pizza, “but I never seem to be able to.” Several others in the room nodded in agreement. They were having a pizza party for their Bible study group, and their leader was encouraging them to set aside time for daily devotions.

“Bible reading is a bit like eating,” said Mr. McRay. “First you take a bite, then you chew it, then you swallow it, and finally you digest it.”

“How do you take a bite of the Bible?” asked Chloe.

“Well, look at this pizza,” said Mr. McRay. “It’s cut into sections, and the Bible is also divided into sections. You choose one section of pizza, and you can choose one section of the Bible–a book or chapter or even just a verse or two.”

“So if that’s like taking a bite, how do you chew?” asked Marc. “My grandma’s always telling me not to bite off more than I can chew!”

Mr. McRay laughed. “She says that so you won’t choke on your food, but don’t worry, you won’t choke from reading your Bible. Chewing your bite of Bible just means thinking and praying about the verses you’ve read.”

“Okay, but then how do we swallow what we’ve read?” asked Alanna.

“Have you ever heard someone say, ‘That story is hard to swallow’? That means it’s hard to believe. So swallowing means believing God’s Word is true.”

“So we read a little, think about it, and believe it,” said Chloe. “Then what?”

“We digest it, remember? And we just studied that in school,” said Marc. “Food is changed into something the blood can take to the rest of the body.”

Mr. McRay nodded. “When we digest food, its nutrients become part of our bodies. And when we digest what we’ve read in the Bible, its truth becomes part of our lives. We let it make a difference as we listen to what it teaches us about Jesus and who we are as God’s children who have been saved from sin.” Mr. McRay picked up a piece of pizza. “I think it would be a good idea to eat four meals a day–breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a slice of your Bible.”

–Sheri Shaw

How About You?
Are you getting four meals a day? Just like eating is important for a healthy body, reading God’s Word is important for a healthy life. If you find it hard to read the Bible, start with small bites. Try reading just a verse or two and think about what God is saying. Then let it make a difference in your life by believing it and doing what it says. Have a bite of Bible every day!

Today’s Key Verse:
People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (NLT) (Matthew 4:4)

Today’s Key Thought:
Feed on God’s Word