The Privilege of Prayer and Bible Reading?

So what are we going to talk about this time? Since Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to talk about a way in which to grow this relationship. As I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that one obvious way to grow any relationship, with anyone, is to spend time with them, right? To get to know them by talking with them, sharing things with them, and having them share things with you. So that is what we are going to talk about today. Getting to know Jesus through the privilege of prayer and reading the Bible. Have you ever thought of Prayer and Bible reading in this way? Simply as a means of getting to know God?

By the way, welcome to our kitchen table, where we share good conversation over good coffee. And if you like these get-togethers and this way of talking things over, please like this video and subscribe to this channel. Thank you.

Now, yes, both of these things are major big topics, and more can be said about each than we can include in our brief time over coffee. But as we are looking at them through the lens of what it means to be a Christian, which is a relationship leading to studentship, leading to living life based on what’s learned. For a full explanation of this lens, check out our chat, “What is Christianity.” I’ll link it in the description box. But as we use this lens, it lets us focus on this basic aspect of getting to know Jesus.

How does it do this? It helps us see that these are two sides of the same coin, the coin of communication. And communication is key in talking with and sharing with someone, and having them do the same with you. In other words, in building a relationship. Is it not?

By looking through this lens, we can see that prayer is a marvelous privilege we have been given for building this relationship with God. It is the privilege of communicating directly with him. And as we mentioned a moment ago, communication is crucial in growing a relationship, right? No communication equals no relationship.

I know, ‘Well, thank you, Captain Obvious.’ Maybe so. But tell me this: how many times have you used prayer simply as a means of talking at God instead of with him? You know, merely asking him to give you things rather than truly communicating with him, just to spend time with him, where you seek nothing but to get to know him better. 

            Am I suggesting that we can’t ask God for things? No, that would be silly, not to mention counter to biblical teaching. But if that is all you are doing, then you are not seeking a relationship, but rather, you are treating him as a fairy godfather or worse- and please pardon the crudeness- a sugar daddy. There is no loving relationship there, and following Jesus is first and foremost about a loving relationship.

            And as prayer is about communication, a second thing our definition of Christianity brings to light is that it is how we share ourselves with God. You might ask, “Sharing ourselves with God??? But doesn’t God already know us completely? What on earth could be so important about our sharing something he already knows?” 

Relationships only grow as we share ourselves with another person. And this sharing builds the relationship in us as much as it does in the other person. For our trust is only built in those with whom we share ourselves. It is not built in those from whom we only ask things. 

You may be saying, “Ok, ok, ok, now wait a minute there, coffeeman. Tell me this: if prayer is about communication and sharing, are we the only ones doing the sharing? Shouldn’t God be communicating and sharing himself with us? I mean, communication is a two-way street, right?” 

Yes, indeed, communication is a two-way street. And yes, even as a relationship only grows as we share ourselves with another person. It also only grows in us when the other person is allowed to share themselves with us. 

“Allowed to share?” You ask. Oh yes. We have to allow the other person to share with us if we are to get to know them. And, I know it sounds weird, but we actually have to get to know the other person, or there is no true relationship, never mind a loving one. 

So, how does God communicate and share himself with us? Principally, through the Bible. Reading the Bible and prayer go hand in hand. As I mentioned earlier, they are two sides of the same coin of communication. So in truth, our prayers to God and reading his word to us should accompany each other, for full communication to happen. And that is how relationships grow.

And you know, it’s interesting: it is possible to read the Bible in the same two ways we’ve just mentioned about praying. First, in a superficial way, similar to the way we mentioned for our prayers. You know, where we merely talk at God to get things from him; so too, we can merely read the Bible just to get lessons, moral guidance, or, we could say, to get spiritual things from it. And the second is more profound. It is to go seeking God himself, which is similar to our prayers when we share ourselves with God. For this allows him to share himself with us. And when we do both, full communication happens, our trust in him grows, and so does our relationship with him. 

I mean, yes. We do learn lessons, things, and get guidance; we do learn a way of life by reading the Bible. That is part of our studentship under him, right? Learning, and then living out what we have learned. 

But, well, as Jesus tells us, everyone who actually hears the Father also learns from him.1 And yes, this reference and all Scripture references are in the description box. When we focus on hearing what God is sharing about himself, we get the whole package. We learn who God is, and we also learn what we need to know in order to live a life that enables us to learn even more about who God is… and so it continues: ever relating, ever learning, ever living. In this way we are being true followers of Jesus. 

Now here’s a question for you. Do you know what happens if we don’t focus on hearing God share himself? We merely attain the level of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, who, as Jesus says, diligently studied Scripture; they could quote Scripture better than you or I ever could. Yet they completely missed out on who he was, and refused to come to him, even though the very Scriptures they studied so intently pointed directly to him.2

We gain so much more than mere lessons when we prayerfully read the Bible, when we view it as his conversation with us, one in which he shares himself with us. For then we gain a deeper understanding of God himself. 

Well, the privilege of prayer is our being able to communicate directly with God. And full communication happens when we allow God to communicate with us through his word, which is the privilege found in Bible reading, learning who God is. Not too bad for a brief introduction to the prayerful art of communication, right?

Now, as I said, these are vast topics, and this is but a starting point on your journey to enrich your faith. Let me recommend some resources I have found extremely helpful.

First, two books on Prayer that I dearly love and have benefited from: Dallas Willard’s book, Hearing God, and Andrew Murray’s book, With Christ in the School of Prayer.  The first is fairly recent, and the second fairly not so recent, but both are excellent resources on this subject. And I did check; both are available on Amazon if you want to check them out. I will list them in the description box for ease of reference so you can get them wherever you find great books.

For Bible reading, two resources I suggest are both books by David Gooding: An Unshakeable Kingdom: The Letter to the Hebrews for Today. And In the School of Christ: Lessons on Holiness in John 13-17. I will also list these in the description box for ease of reference so you can get them wherever you find great books. I do hope you continue to learn all you can about these marvelous privileges we have been given for building a relationship with God. 

Now it’s time for your part of the conversation. Let me know your thoughts on this in this video’s comments section. Thank you for watching and for sharing. 

And make sure to check out the Thought of the Day that is posted each morning at 8 am CST on our website, simplenotshallow.com. These thoughts are offered to inspire you and help you contemplate God and your relationship with him throughout the day. The link is in the description box below. Also, check out our audio podcast, also linked in the description box. This podcast is hosted by Gerald Yerkes, who brings 54 years of experience as a pastor to each episode. Join him as he shares insights into God, God’s Word, and living the Christian life.

Well, until next time. May your relationship with Jesus continue to grow, and may coffee, into your cup, always flow.

 The Books Mentioned:

Hearing God, by Dallas Willard.

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray.

An Unshakeable Kingdom: The Letter to the Hebrews for Today, by David Gooding.

In the School of Christ: Lessons on Holiness in John 13-17, also by David Gooding.Scripture References:

Link to the video: What is Christianity

Scripture Referenced:

1. John 6:45, Everyone who hears the Father also learns from him.

2. John 5:39, 40 The Pharisees diligently studied Scripture, yet completely missed who he was, refusing to come to him, even though the very Scriptures they studied pointed directly to him. 

2 Timothy 2:15, Paul encourages Timothy. 

Related passages:

Matthew 6:5-15 Jesus on prayer.

Luke 11:1-4 Instruction on how to pray.

Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4 The Lord’s Prayer, a pattern for us in prayer. Focus on Jesus first; everything else comes after.