Studying your Bible

Here’s a helpful illustration in how Christians are to spend time in God’s word:

A person described three things he saw in a garden among the plants and flowers.

1) The first was a butterfly, that alighted on an attractive flower.  It sat for a second or two, then moved onto another, seeing and touching many lovely blossoms but deriving no benefit from them.

2) Next came a botanist with a large notebook and microscope.  He spent some time over each flower and plant, making copious notes of each.  But when he had finished, his knowledge was shut away with his notebook; very little of it remained with him.

3) Then a bee came along, entering a flower here and there and spending time in each, emerging from each blossom laden with pollen.  It went in empty and came out full.

There are those who read the Bible, flitting from one favorite passage to another, but getting little from their reading.  Others really study and take notes, but do not apply the teachings of Scripture.  Others – like the bee – spend time over the Word, reading, marking, and inwardly digesting and applying it.  Their minds are filled with wisdom and their lives with heavenly sweetness.

(John MacArthur: How to meet the enemy)

Which are you?  A butterfly, flitting from class to class, Bible study to Bible study, seminar to seminar, book to book, flapping your pretty wings but never changing.  A botanist – with enough notebooks to sink a small battleship?  Or are you a bee coming in empty and going out full, turning your knowledge into the honey that makes life sweet.