Our community strongly believes that all the success and everything good that we need flows from the relationship with God. We use terms like “spending time in the Word” or “sitting with Jesus”.

Over time it formed the image for me that spending time with God is unseparated from reading the Bible. In the same way, reading the Bible equals spending time with God.

For a long time, I thought it blasphemy to say that you spend time with God when there’s no Bible passage in front of you. However, with maturity came a time when I got enough boldness to start questioning this image in my heart.

Does reading the Bible actually equals being with God?

I would say that this passage wraps things up.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39–40, ESV)

Jesus was answering the religious leaders.

It communicates to us that:

1. The study of Scriptures doesn’t give us eternal life. Eternal life according to Jesus’ definition is knowing God. (John 17:3)
2. The Scriptures (referring to the Old Testament only) point to Jesus.
3. Jews (most likely the scribes and Pharisees) that oppose Jesus refuse to come to Jesus and they continue to search the Scriptures.
4. Coming to Jesus gives life.

Jesus was rebuking Pharisees and Scribes for not knowing God.

Wait a moment! Wasn’t their actual work was to read the Scriptures and study them?

For some reason, people that spent less time in the Scriptures recognized Jesus as the Messiah quicker than the religious leaders.

Crowds followed Jesus recognizing Him as being greater than any earthly priest.

Although we can justify opposing Jews for their concern that people would follow someone who’s opposing the tradition, it is clear that their main motivation wasn’t it. They were opposing Jesus mainly because of jealousy of His success. If they approved Jesus and what He was preaching they’d lose their position and status in society.

All of it shows that coming to Jesus is the way to obtain eternal life. The Scriptures were pointing to Him.

Reading and studying the Scriptures is not equal to spending time with God. The written word gives us information about Him, instructs, directs and helps to stay on course (2 Timothy 3:16). However, to have a relationship with the person we need to come to the person.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, ESV)

Spending time with God

If spending time with God isn't the same as reading the Bible, how does one practically gets to be with Him?

All of us have a beating heart. It’s always in us. Are we constantly aware of it?

I go about my days and not even think about it. As long as it beats properly, I’m not bothered. Because of that, I forget that I have one. It’s not like it stops or disappears when I’m not aware of it. I just get distracted.

As soon as I choose to be aware of my heart, I know it’s there. I can tell you the speed of the beating. I can describe it and be more in tune with it.

Concerning the relationship with God, the principle is similar.

…for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b, ESV)

God promised to never leave us. He didn’t add any conditions to it.

Just like the heartbeat within our chests, God doesn’t fail to be with us.

Is God with you when you don’t find time to recognize Him the entire day? Is God with you when you do what I’m not supposed to do? Is God with you when you walk far enough from your Bible?

If the verse in Hebrew is true, yes, God is with you all the time. There’s never a time He’s away. It’s His promise.

Just stop and let that sink in. God is constantly with you.

We don’t feel Him because He’s not physical like our hearts, but spiritual. We have the privilege to walk in faith, not by sight or feelings (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Nevertheless, I can promise you that you will start to feel something when you start to focus on Him.

Because of my faith in the Gospel, Jesus dwells in me. I cannot go anywhere without being with Him. I can go about my business all day and fail to focus on Him but I never actually leave His presence.

Simply put, we forget to recognize Him. He doesn’t stop being faithful to us. Don’t think that you can check-in and check-out with God. Your attention does, but not the presence of the Lord.

Just as we forget that we have hearts beating non-stop inside our chests we are able to forget that God is with us all the time.

Spending time with God means recognizing that He is near.

Last thoughts

All said and done, I don’t say we shouldn’t read the Bible. Through the study of the Scriptures, we get to know “how” and “why” a relationship with God is possible.

The Bible is like the only sign of direction we have from Him. It’s helping us to find the way to Jesus who reveals the complete character of God and gives us eternal life.

Spending time with God took another form that set me free and allowed me to have more quality time with Him. I get to be with Him, I get to speak with Him when I wash dishes, when I go for a walk or take a bike ride.

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