How Do You Read the Bible?

Some people have a problem with Christians reading the Bible electronically. One time while doing street ministry, I witnessed to a man who wanted to see for himself a Scripture quoted to him. I had a Gideon’s New Testament on me but opted to take out my smartphone to find the verse he wanted to see. This man immediately dismissed me as a “false evangelist” for not showing him God’s word on paper. 

I’ve seen preachers claim “real Christians use real Bibles.” While I do have a Spirit-Filled Life Bible plus numerous New Testaments and Gospels of John (to give to those who don’t have a copy of God’s Word), I mostly read Scripture on my smartphone, iPad, or laptop. That allows me to quickly locate verses in different translations with larger fonts that are easier to see. The small printing in some Bibles almost requires a magnifying glass. At night, I often fall asleep to an audio Bible. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

During Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, there’s no record of Him reading from a document while He quoted Scripture to the devil. God’s word was originally written on stone, scrolls, and then paper put into books. Now we have electronic devices available. No matter how you spend time in the Bible, it must get in your heart and come out of your mouth to produce results. 

“But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” 

- Deuteronomy 30:14