We should read and study the Bible
because it is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed"
(2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God's very words to us. There are so
many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in
Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life
after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I
struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible
gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How
can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a
good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What
really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret?
How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?
We should read and study the Bible because it
is totally reliable and without error. The Bible is unique among so-called
"holy" books in that it does not merely give moral teaching and say,
"Trust me." Rather, we have the ability to test it by checking the
hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical
accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Those who
say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth. Jesus once asked
which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or "Rise,
take up your bed and walk." Then He proved He had the ability to forgive
sins (something we cannot see with our eyes) by healing the paralytic
(something those around Him could test with their eyes). Similarly, we are
given assurance that God's Word is true when it discusses spiritual areas that
we cannot test with our senses by showing itself true in those areas that we
can test, such as historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, and prophetic
accuracy.
We should read and study the Bible because God
does not change and because mankind's nature does not change; it is as relevant
for us as it was when it was written. While technology changes, mankind's
nature and desires do not change. We find, as we read the pages of biblical
history, that whether we are talking about one-on-one relationships or
societies, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
And while mankind as a whole continues to seek love and satisfaction in all of
the wrong places, God—our good and gracious Creator—tells us what will bring us
lasting joy. His revealed Word, the Bible, is so important that Jesus said of
it, "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from
the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In other words, if we want to live life
to the fullest, as God intended, we must listen to and heed God's written Word.
We should read and study the Bible because
there is so much false teaching. The Bible gives us the measuring stick by
which we can distinguish truth from error. It tells us what God is like. To
have a wrong impression of God is to worship an idol or false god. We are
worshiping something that He is not. The Bible tells us how one truly gets to
heaven, and it is not by being good or by being baptized or by anything else we
do (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-18, 5:8, 6:23,
10:9-13). Along this line, God's Word shows us just how much God loves us
(Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16). And it is in learning this that we are drawn to love
Him in return (1 John 4:19).
The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy
3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our
sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and
obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25).
God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm
119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers
(Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of
our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).
Reading and studying the Bible helps us see
beyond the attractive "bait" to the painful "hook" in
sinful temptations, so that we can learn from others' mistakes rather than
making them ourselves. Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to
learning from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn
from others' mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to learn from, some
of whom can serve as both positive and negative role models at different times
in their lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that
God is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his giving
in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals just how
long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment's sinful pleasure can be
(2 Samuel 11).
The Bible is a book that is not merely for
reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is
like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no
nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as
binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own
detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be
emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives.
Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort
and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find
a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the
more reward we will gain for our effort.
God Bless to all,,,
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