Reading the Bible is Like Snorkeling at a Coral Reef (updated for 2021!)

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures . . ." 

(Genesis 1:20a NIV)

The sea is his, for he made it . . .

(Psalm 95:5a NIV)

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 

(Psalm 96:11 NIV)

This photo reminds me of snorkeling at Bira

One of my happiest memories from our years living in Indonesia was snorkeling over a coral reef.  About once a year we would take a retreat to a beach called Bira which was 5 hours from our home.  That’s five hours over roads full of holes, bumps, and “exciting” bridges.  But it was worth it. There are many beautiful parts of God’s creation, but nothing I’ve seen compares with the stunning beauty of thousands of fish of many bright colors and all types of shapes swimming around you in a warm tropical ocean over beautiful coral. Every time I got to see the teeming coral was a worship experience. And there was so much to see.  No matter how many times I had been, there were always new types of fish and new beauty.  And the fish I had seen before were not any less splendid.

To me, reading the Bible is like that.  There are beautiful, encouraging truths everywhere.  And even though I’ve been reading it for as long as I can remember, God is constantly opening my eyes to see new aspects of His truth. I see more and more beauty.

When one first goes snorkeling, a lot of energy may be spent on the process of snorkeling.  It takes a little time to get use to breathing through the snorkel and learning how to clear it comfortably when water gets in. Even so, the very first time I went, I was stunned by all the beauty.  But as I became more comfortable with the snorkeling itself, I enjoyed seeing the coral world more and more.  I think Bible reading is like this.  At first you’re trying to get “oriented” in the new world of God’s Word.  Yet even those first experiences are rich with new revelation and encouragement. But the more you learn from God’s Word, the more you are able to see and learn new things.

I could have gone to Bira and just stood on the beach and remembered the last time I went snorkeling.  But if I had done that I would have missed out on so much.  In the same way, remembering that we have read the Bible in the past is not the same thing as opening it and reading it anew.  We need to dive into God’s Word again, expecting Him to give us new strength and show us new truths.

Of all my snorkeling adventures, there is one which stands out as sweeter and more wonderful than any of the others.  It’s not because I saw something especially amazing that time.  It is because I was snorkeling with Joy, my daughter.  It was our last trip to Bira before it was time to move back to the US.  Joy had reached a point where she was a confident and strong enough swimmer to go snorkeling with me. Together we saw lots of fish, an eel sticking out of a crevice, a big jelly fish which we almost ran into, and a sea snake which we were glad did not come too close.  The fact that I saw these things with someone I love made the experience all the more wonderful.

Snorkeling with Joy at Bira

I believe something similar happens when we read the Bible with other Christians (and people who we hope will become Christians!).  When we see wonderful things in God’s Word and share insights, thoughts, questions, and testimonies with each other, Bible reading becomes even more wonderful.  If you’re relatively new to reading through the Bible, having some more experienced friends along can help you as you go.  This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t read the Bible on our own. We should spend private, quiet time prayerfully meeting with God in His Word.  But there’s something extra when we learn from the Bible together with others.

So, I’ve set up a Facebook group for people who want to read through the New Testament together in 2021.  We’ll read the same passages each day, and then we can share thoughts, questions, insights, and testimonies with the group.  Sound good?  You’re welcome to join us.  You’re also welcome to copy this idea (I’m sure I’m not the first to do something like this) and start a group especially for your own family, friends, and neighbors.  Here’s the link to the one I’m starting:

 

Treasuring God's Word

(I first posted this for a similar group that read through the Bible in 2018. By God's grace, that group went well, so I'm starting this new Bible reading group for 2021. We'll be reading through the New Testament together in about 6 months, starting on Jan 1, 2021.)


Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .