All About the Bible
11 - Reading the Bible
Every Christian should read the Bible. A daily time in God’s word will be a real source of encouragement and challenge. Why should we spend time reading the Bible?
Reading the Bible is the only means for us getting to know what God is like. It tells us what God's will is. The Bible directs us in the right way. We read in Psalm 119:105, "your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path". God's word is life to the soul. Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life". The words Jesus spoke are written down for us in the Bible. They bring life to all who obey them. This life is abundant life now and eternal life in the future. The word of God is food to our souls. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God". In other words life cannot be found in the material things of this life. As good and beneficial as bread is it can’t reach down into the deep places of your soul and bring lasting pleasure and real joy. This is true of any material thing this world offers.
Reading and doing what His word commands shows that you are His loving disciple. Jesus said in John 8:31, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples". How you respond to God's word when you read it or hear it preached will show a lot about the reality of your claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
Reading the Bible moves the heart. In Luke 24:32 we read the testimony of the two disciples who met with the risen Jesus on the Emmaus road. They said, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?" Devotion is kindled in our hearts when the Lord speaks to us in His word. These despondent disciples were revived as the Lord opened up the scriptures. Are you feeling low? Get into the word and let it warm your heart.
Reading God's word shapes the will. David said in Psalm 119:11, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you". The will follows the choices of the heart. When God's word is in your heart, moulding and shaping its desires, then the will follows in conformity to it.
Reading the Bible produces Faith. We read in Romans 10:17, "Faith comes through hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ". The Bible speaks about God's greatness, His power and glory, His faithfulness and grace. All of these great truths, when believed and received, strengthen our faith in who God is, and what He will do for all those who trust Him. Many times God's people in the Old Testament looked back to great events of divine deliverance. They drew much comfort from them. This practice also built up their faith believing that God could do those things again for His needy people. said in Psalm 63: 6-7, "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadows of your wing". David thought back to previous blessings and it helped him to trust in the Lord for any future needs. The writer to the Hebrews did the same thing. He said in Hebrews 13:5-6, "God has said `Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you`. So we say with confidence `The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? `" His faith was strengthened by remembering Gods promise and applying it to his present circumstances.
Reading the Bible produces hope. In scripture hope isn’t a vague thing. When we use the word hope today there’s an element of uncertainty about it. Hope in the Bible is sure and certain. The Bible gives us hope in present difficulties. We read in Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble". We need not despair in trials because we are assured from our Bible reading that God will be with us to help us. There is hope for the future. We read in Romans 8:20, "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God". When we read our Bibles we are encouraged because we know that this world isn’t all that there is. There’s a brighter day coming when Christians and this fallen world will be changed when Jesus returns.
Reading the Bible sustains us as we live in this dark and fallen world. We face many challenges, problems and circumstances. Life brings many various trials and temptations. How can we face them? In Acts 27 we read about Paul’s shipwreck. The boat he was travelling in to Rome met a furious storm. In Acts 27:23 Paul said to the crew, "Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you". Paul faced the storm and danger with peace and confidence knowing that God had promised to help him and bring him and the crew to safety. It is the same for you and me. We can be confident in the promises of the word of God. Whatever we face we have the promise of the Lord Jesus. He said in Matthew 28:20, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age". If that were the only promise in the Bible it would be enough to know that Jesus remains with us through life’s journey. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:4, "He has given us His very great and precious promises". There are many more promises from God scattered throughout the Bible for you to read and hope in when the storms of life come against you.