Based on their knowledge and experience, many Bible scholars and faithful believers would have a lot of things to say about reading the scriptures. But what does the Bible say about reading the Bible? In this guide, we will provide answers to this question, discussing the importance of studying God’s word daily.
As children of God, we should understand that what the Bible says about the word of God is more important than what anyone else may say. And so we must prioritize reading the scriptures to know every topic that can contribute to our spiritual growth.
Some Christians read several books of the Bible daily in a hurry, mainly out of obligation, without meditating on them. They don’t understand that God is not interested in whether they read many Bible verses at a time or not, but is more interested in the impact of the Word in their lives.
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Apostle Paul makes it clear in Romans 2:13 that, “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”
Sometimes, meditating on the word of the Lord may take a lot of time, especially when we have a busy schedule. However, it is one of the most edifying practices to engage in as children of God.
Throughout the scriptures, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Lord tells us the importance of reading His word. Let’s discuss them one after the other!
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Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
This verse of the scripture tells us that reading the Bible is not enough, but we must meditate on it and do everything the Lord commands us to do. As a result, everything we lay our hands on will prosper, and we will also become successful in our endeavors.
Psalm 1:1-3 also gave a similar command as Joshua 1:8. It says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
God is simply telling us that the desire to become prosperous and successful is dependent on our willingness to meditate on His word at all times and obey the commands in it wholly. Once we follow this divine instruction, we will continue to experience all-round progress in our endeavors.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105). God’s word is compared to a lamp that illuminates the path of believers, preventing them from stumbling and falling.
John 11:9-10 says, “Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” Jesus Christ is the light of the world, according to John 8:12.
Whenever we need clarity about a life issue, Jesus gives us direction as we read the Bible. Before beginning our Bible study, we can say this simple but effective prayer from Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
And when we seek guidance about any decision we want to take, we will receive God’s revelation about it in His word.
3. Reading God’s Word Helps Us Receive Answers to Prayers
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The book of John 15:7 says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” This verse of the scripture is telling us that no matter how big or seemingly impossible our needs may be, God can grant them. However, there’s a condition we have to meet, which is abiding in Christ and allowing His word to dwell in our hearts.
There’s no situation that the word of God doesn’t address, whether in the stories of Bible characters or specific verses. Whenever we have a need or a challenge, we can search the scriptures for specific verses that focus on the need and pray with them.
If a believer is in serious financial crisis, they can personalize Philippians 4:19 and also remind God of His promises in Haggai 2:8, and they will receive answers to the prayers. However, it is by reading the Bible regularly that Christians can know the verses that relate to their needs.
Psalm 119:9 reads, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guiding it according to your word.” A similar verse is in Psalm 119:11, which says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.”
By paying attention to the teachings of the Bible, we can know God’s commands and the consequences of sinning against Him. Additionally, we can study the lives of those who lived with the fear of the Lord in the scriptures and imitate them.
While you may face several challenges in your Christian journey, especially because you can’t compromise your faith, you will be victorious. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Therefore, it’s better to have a good relationship with God from a young age, like Joseph and Daniel did, and desist from the life of sin.
Just as Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, every believer will be tempted several times. If you’re knowledgeable about the scriptures, you’ll know the appropriate response to give when the temptation comes, to overcome them.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
5. Reading the Scriptures Builds Our Spiritual Power
God’s word is the sword of the spirit that we can use to wage war against the devil and its agents, according to Ephesians 6:17. It says, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The preceding verses of this scripture tell all believers that they do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). “
We live in a wicked world, where the enemy is constantly looking for ways to devour the people of God. Fortunately, we have access to the word of God, which is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Whenever we speak the word of God over any affliction of the enemy, such as sickness, poverty, or failure, the power of God begins to work to put an end to them.
John 1:1 reveals to us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
So let’s continue to build our spiritual strength by constantly studying the scriptures to be well equipped to handle any challenge that comes our way.
Studying the word of the Lord and meditating on it gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. In the book of Psalm 119:99, the psalmist says, “I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word], for Your testimonies are my meditation.”
Similarly, Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Most people associate wisdom, knowledge, and understanding with age and experience. But the Bible tells us that a young person can be wiser and more knowledgeable than an elderly person if they meditate on God’s word all the time.
Gaining insight from the scriptures requires discipline, humility, and the willingness to find out God’s will for our lives. Believers who have exceptional wisdom and knowledge beyond human comprehension often take their Bible time seriously.
Commitment to our early morning quiet time can draw us closer to Christ. God pays special attention to those who are faithful in their walk with Him and He rewards them accordingly.
7. Reading the Bible Builds Our Trust in God
According to Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” A similar verse is John 17:17, which says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” From these verses of the scriptures, we understand that the word of the Lord is the word of truth, and everything that contradicts it is false.
We can trust what proves to be true, and so we can trust God’s word. This helps to build our trust in Christ, no matter what we may be going through. We can be confident that God will always fulfill all the promises he made to us through His word because He never fails.
Additionally, it is by constantly reading the Word that we can identify every doctrine that is different from the true word of God. Many false teachers are in the world today, preaching heresy and making fearful declarations.
Unfortunately, they’re in many modern-day churches, deceiving believers who are not committed to the things of God with their whole heart. Since we know the truth, we can always correct biblical errors without fear or doubt to prevent the spread of wrong teachings.
8. Reading the Bible is Mandatory
Jesus Christ emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible to become enlightened about several aspects of life. When the Pharisees came to test Him about the issue of divorce in the book of Matthew 19:3-4, Jesus replied, saying, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the creator made them male and female?”
Further, in the book of Matthew 12:3, Jesus asked the Pharisees the same question when they accused His disciples of doing what is unlawful on the sabbath. This implies that studying the Bible is compulsory for all followers of Christ.
Through the scriptures, we can learn about God’s character, will, promises, commands, and plans for our lives. Moreover, we can copy the lives of Bible characters who devoted their lives to serving God and obeying His commands. As Christians, Bible reading is important for our spiritual growth, and so we must devote our time to it daily.
The word of God molds our character until we become good Christians, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
As Christians, we have the responsibility to show the people of the world that we’re followers of Christ through our speech, conduct, dressing, and overall composure.
There should be a big difference between the way we behave and the way unbelievers behave. Everyone we interact with daily should be able to see the fruits of the spirit in our lives.
Acts 11:26 tells us that it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians because they were behaving like Christ Jesus.
If we’re struggling with an unhealthy habit or behavior, the word of God can reveal them to us as we meditate on the scriptures daily. Besides, the scriptures also reveal the implication of every bad character, including pride, theft, laziness, murder, adultery, fornication, jealousy, anger, malice, and unforgiveness.
Sometimes, when we refuse to change an imperfection that God has been warning us about, He may discipline us until we surrender to His divine will (Hebrews 12:6).
Wrapping Up
Now that we know what the Bible says about reading the Bible, let’s make a conscious effort to improve our Bible study practice. Nowadays, there’s no reason why any true believer shouldn’t hear from God through His word on a daily basis if they take their Christian belief seriously.
We can read the Bible conveniently on a Bible app on our mobile devices and also receive biblical insights from Bible chat apps. Perhaps you’re struggling with reading and meditating on God’s word on a consistent basis; consider developing a Bible reading plan or setting a daily goal of Bible reading.
No amount of time is too much to spend on studying the word of our God every day. Ignoring Bible study can prevent us from hearing from God and may also expose us to the schemes of the enemy.
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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