The Importance of Reading the Bible
The Bible is one of God’s main provisions and intents for us to know Him.
The Bible is also, God’s main provisions for us to live well and live fully.
Therefore, reading the Bible in its entirety should be vitally important to us. But it can be a struggle – at first – to do so.
This can be expected for at least two reasons. One, God tells us that His ways are hugely different than our ways and two, the Bible packs a lot into a small space.
It sure is thrilling though when we see beyond our doubts, questions, and prejudices. It’s thrilling when Scripture becomes applicable to us and more than just words on a page. We find both comfort and challenge in God’s words. God really does speak to each of us personally through His Word.
God says, “Listen closely to my words…For they are life to those who find them.” Proverbs 4:20-22
Here is what the Bible has to say about its IMPORTANCE and VALUE.
God’s Word Gives Life and Preserves our Lives
“The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63; see also Deuteronomy 32:47).
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
“Verily, verily, I say unto, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words…for they are life to those who find them and health…” (Proverbs 4:20,22).
“They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land…” (Deuteronomy 32:47 NIV).
God’s Word Heals and Preserves our Lives
“He sent forth his word and healed them… (Ps. 107:20 NIV).
“Your promise [and word] preserves my life” (Ps. 119:50 and verses 25, 107, 154 NIV).
“Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD.” (Ps. 119:65 NIV).
God’s Word Will Judge Us
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
God’s Word Gives Faith
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).
God’s Word Gives Peace
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace” (John 16:33).
“Great peace have they which love thy law” (Ps. 119:165).
God’s Word Gives Joy
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11; see also Jer. 15:16).
God’s Word Brings Success
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night…Whatever he does prospers” (Ps. 1:1-3 NIV).
“Keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself” (1 Kings 2:3; see also Joshua 1:8).
God’s Word Prepares Us for Righteousness
“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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
God’s Word Cleanses and Keeps Us from Sin
“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11).
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3).
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9).
God’s Word Gives Spiritual Nourishment, Growth, and an Inheritance
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:1-2).
“It is written, May shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3, Job 23:12).
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance” (Acts 20:32).
God’s Word Develops God’s Love
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:5).
God’s Word is Necessary for Answered Prayer
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22).
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7 NIV 1984).
“He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination (detestable)” (Proverbs 28:9).
God’s Word Gives Understanding, Wisdom, and Light
“The entrance of thy words gives light; it giveth understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Leave a Reply