WHY READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE?

“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs. 4:20-22 NKJV).

 

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is supreme and inerrant. It is the authoritative and dynamic revelation of God’s nature, character, will, plans and purposes.

 

The Bible offers you immense blessings; however, until you unwrap and open it, read and study it, meditate and act upon it, believe and obey it, you cannot know, understand, appropriate, and experience its inherent power and blessings.

 

Let us consider some of the enormous blessings God’s Word offers us.

 

First, the Word of God Gives Life: 

 

The Word of God is an incorruptible seed that produces the life of Christ in the believers. The Word of God is living; it is spirit and life. It quickens, revives, and regenerates.

 

The Lord Jesus testifies to this truth.

 

John 6:63 – NKJV

63 The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

 

Paul also testifies to this truth.

 

Hebrews 4:12 – NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

The Psalmist also testifies to this truth.

 

Psalms 119:93 – NKJV

93 I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.

 

Therefore, Solomon admonishes us to give attention to God’s Word.

 

Proverbs 4:20-22 – NKJV

 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.

 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;

 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

 

Second, the Word of God Sanctifies, Purifies, and Renews the Mind:

 

The Word of God is like a fire that consumes the trash in the minds of those who wholly and humbly receive, believe, and apply its truths.

 

The Word of God is like a hammer that breaks or casts down strongholds, imaginations, arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in the minds of those who constantly imbibe its truths (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

 

Jeremiah 23:29 – NKJV

29 Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

 

The Word of God is also like spiritual water that cleanses and washes away spiritual dirt and filth from the soul that receives, believes, and applies its teachings (1 Tim. 4:5).

 

Paul points out this truth.

 

Ephesians 5:25-27 – NKJV

 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

 

The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3 NKJV).

 

Jesus also prayed for His disciples, saying, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17 NKJV).

 

Third, the Word of God Imparts Divine Wisdom and Understanding:

 

The Word of God is like a lamp giving light, illumination, direction, and guidance to those who humbly receive, believe, and live by its teachings or instructions (Deut. 4:5-6, 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

 

The Psalmist testifies to this truth.

 

Psalms 119:105, 130 – NKJV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

 

God’s Word imparts divine wisdom to the humble soul that obeys its injunctions and follows its instructions.

 

Psalms 119:98 – NKJV

98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.

 

Deuteronomy 4: 5-6 – NKJV

 5 “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.

 6 “Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

 

Fourth, the Word of God Supplies Divine Nourishment for Spiritual Growth:

 

The Word of God is like pure milk and food supplying spiritual nutrients for healthy spiritual growth and releasing spiritual strength and grace to overcome trials, temptations, and challenges of life to those who humbly receive and wholly believe its truths (Heb. 5:12-14, Psa. 119:28).

 

1 Peter 2:1-2 – NKJV

 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

 

Fifth, the Word of God Brings Hope, Comfort, and Joy:

 

In trials and tribulations, the Word of God gives peace, hope, comfort, and joy to all who turn to it and receive and believe what it says.

 

Jeremiah 15:16 – NKJV

16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

 

Psalms 119:165 – NKJV

165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

 

Sixth, the Word of God Prepares and Equips for Good Works:

 

The Word of God thoroughly prepares and equips for every good work the heart that delights in it and diligently studies it (Acts 18:24-28).

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – NKJV

 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

Paul’s admonition to Timothy is for us all today.

 

1 Timothy 4:13-16 – NKJV

 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

 

Seventh, the Word of God is a Spiritual Weapon of Warfare:

 

The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit in the hands of those who know, believe, confess, apply, and act upon the truths and revelation knowledge of God’s Word (Heb. 4:12, 2 Cor. 10:3-6).

 

Therefore, Paul admonishes you to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17 NKJV).

 

What should you do to experience and partake in all these tremendous and wonderful blessings inherent in God’s Word?

 

Delight in God’s Word and read it prayerfully and systematically (1 Tim. 4:13, Psa. 119:70).

 

Search and study God’s Word diligently (John 5:39, Acts 17:11).

 

Meditate in God’s Word and memorize it (Jos. 1:8, Psa. 119:11, 97).

 

Sing, pray, and confess God’s Word (Col. 3:16. Neh. 1:8).

 

Preach and teach God’s Word (Deut. 6:6-9, 2 Tim. 4:2).

 

Buy and give out Bible as a gift to people (Prov. 23:23. 1 John 3:17).

 

Believe it, obey it and act upon God’s Word (1 Thess. 2:13, Jam. 1:21-25).

 

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. President, openly said, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”

 

Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President, said, “I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands . . . the Bible makes the best people in the world.”

 

Ronald Reagan, the 40th U.S. President, said, “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”

 

Daniel Webster (1782-1852), American statesman and political leader, said, “If we abide by the principles taught by the Bible, our country will go on prospering.”

 

Horace Greeley (1811-1872), the famous 18th-century newspaper editor and reformer, said, “It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.”

 

Sir Francis Bacon, known as the father of the scientific method, wrote: “There are  two books laid before us to study, to prevent our falling into error; first, the volume of Scriptures, which reveal the will of God, then the volume of the Creatures [Creation], which express His power.”

 

What do you say about the Bible?

 

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, help me to be a diligent reader and doer of Your Word so that I may know, understand, appropriate, experience, and enjoy to the fullest its inherent power and blessings, in Jesus’ name. Amen.