Think of someone who reads a lot of Bible but does not understand. What will be the effects? They will be discouraged, they will not grow, and there will be no transformation happening, though they are reading.
Many people say, I read the Bible but I do not understand. What is the problem with that? The problem is multifaceted. There may be challenges with focus. The data is on, messages are flashing in, the phone is ringing, and your attention becomes divided, and yet, engaging effectively with the Bible requires your full focus.
Parable of the Sower. What is unique about the one with the good soil and who bore fruit? See Matthew 13:18-19. Compare with verse 23. What is unique about verse 23? It takes understanding to enable us bear fruit.
STEPS TO TAKE TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING
Continue reading even if you don't understand. The understanding will come with time if you persist and have the desire to know the Word. Yes, keep reading it.
Desire to Grow Spiritually and Keep Making the Effort: Don't stop growing. Your spiritual growth is not dependent on how many years you've been a Christian, but on how much you know God. And we cannot know God outside of His Word. Knowing His Word and understanding it is a requirement for spiritual growth and vitality.
Observing 1 Peter 2:2 is key to your growth. Desire the milk of His Word and continue making the effort. That effort must yield good results. But the effort must be there. The fruit begins when you achieve understanding.
Assurance of Salvation: Be sure you are fully surrendered to the Lord in your heart. Be sure that you believe in Him and desire to know Him more. Be sure you are born again and you are in Christ. That in itself brings a deep desire to know God and be grounded in His Word. Without it, your Christian life will be technical and quite dry.
Keep what you read in your mind and think deeply about it. Think about it often. As you continue doing this, before you realise, your understanding will open. You will begin to behold wonderful things in the Word of God (Psalm 119:18). The joy to read it more increases when your understanding improves. You will begin to long for it. At that point, you will give yourself a challenge to read even areas that are difficult to understand.
I personally think about the things I read in God's Word a lot. I would ask why Goliath a threat to the Israelites, who have God on their side. I extend my curiosity into my spiritual life and engagement with the scriptures. While reading 1 Samuel 17, I would ask what I can learn from him and apply to spiritual warfare today? Reflecting on things extensively transforms your life, and I do not mean worrying.
Acts 8:30-31 - Admit it if you do not understand. It takes humility and a certain level of honesty to admit that you do not know. I have asked for insights into the Word of God.
From the same passage in Acts 8, continue reading even if you do not understand.
Ask for help. Ask someone full of the Holy Spirit to explain it to you. The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip to guide him understands what he was reading. See Acts 8:28-31. Fortunately, this man had Philip come over and ask him the most important question, ‘do you understand?’
In the days of Nehemiah and Ezra, there were several people who helped the people understand the scriptures. See Nehemiah 8:1-8
Seek help from the Lord. Luke 24:45. Why was this necessary?
Reflect on the factors that make understanding possible.
CONCLUSION
If you read the Bible but do not understand it, you cannot enjoy it. And the Bible is enjoyable!
Yes, there are sections of the Bible that are not so easy to read or understand, but that does not mean you should stop reading it.
