Many of you may ask, “What’s the importance of reading the Bible? Really, what is the big deal?” A lot of you say to yourselves, "The Bible is a man made book. I can find God for myself without ever reading it." The truth is God can get your attention without presenting you with a bible. He can confront you on your way to the club. He can quietly speak to you through the sweet spirit of a friend. Nevertheless, the Bible is God’s word and He speaks to us through it. If we never take time to access the Bible and study it, we miss out on major insight into who God is and how He feels about us.
Want to know God’s stance on violence, read 1 Chronicles 22 or Isaiah 1. Want to know God’s perspective on the poor, read Deuteronomy 15:11, Proverbs 28:27, or Isaiah 41:17. Want to know about God’s love for people, read John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4, or 1 John 4:10. The Bible is filled with stories of persons, flawed like you and me. They had strengths and weaknesses, moments of excellence and times of defeat. They lived in times similar to ours and had the same questions about God that we have.
Here's an awesome fact about God: He never thinks it beyond Himself to meet us at our level and reveal His nature to us. In every generation, He shows His expectations of mankind. He shows His disapproval of hatred, injustice, and sin. Yet, He also shows the greatness of His love. To understand God’s love, you can’t just read this blog, or listen to a sermon, or buy a book written by a theologian or a motivational speaker. You have to read the written word of God. Get to know Him for yourself. Today is a great opportunity!
Own a Bible? Open it today and read a verse, a chapter, a book. Don’t own a bible? Ask a friend to borrow his or access one from the library. Download the Bible app on your phone or read the bible via the Internet. When you have questions, don’t just ask your friends or loved ones. Pray this simple prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to study and learn more about you. Right now, I do not understand everything written in the holy scriptures. Please grant me knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and insight. Reveal to me all that I need to get from your written Word. Help me to not only understand your Word, but give me the ability to teach the Word to others. Let this all be done for your glory.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Love,
CompassionateLee
2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.