Why is Regular Time in God's Word Important?

The Bible talks about the benefits of reading, learning, listening to and obeying God's word.  Below are just a few of the highlights :-)

God's word is living and active
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

We cannot live on bread alone
Matthew 4:4 - People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God

Wisdom is found in it
Timothy 3:15 - You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:24-27 - Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash

So you are equipped for battle
Ephesians 6:17 - Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

To keep your way pure
Psalms 119:9 - How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.

To store up God's word in your heart
Psalms 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

This is just a small representation of why we, as disciples of Jesus Christ need to be dedicating time each day to spend reading our Bible's.  If you do not own a Bible there are several great sites online where you can read from, there are great free apps for iphone and android, and if you want a hard copy many times thrift stores will have some in their book section for a really great price.

Some other thoughts on reading your Bible...

The entire Bible read cover to cover takes approximately 75 hours or less to read.  So to read through the Bible in a year you would need to commit around 12 minutes per day.  Under an hour and a half per week.  It is not a huge commitment but it is the one thing that you will do in your day that will benefit you in ways you can't even imagine yet.

Some other thoughts about the Word of God:

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus is literally a part of every word we read in Scriptures.  He was the word, He was with God, He is God, He became flesh and lived with us!  Which means the power and authority that we are given by Jesus Christ, which gives us access as equals to the inheritance of heaven, is encased in each and every word we read as well.  Each word shows us more about who God is.

Matthew 4:4 (Deuteronomy 8:3)
But He answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

I know in my life this is very true.

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

You need faith (knowing what God's word says and believing that He will do what He says He will do) to please God and to come to His throne boldly.  The way to get faith is to hear God's word.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

There is sacrifice in diligently seeking God but the rewards far outweigh anything we need to give up to seek His face.

2 Timothy 3:15-17
And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be adequate, perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.

It is so important to know what the word of God says for yourself and to study the scriptures.  I encourage you to not rely on what anyone else says about the Bible no matter how many letters are behind their name or how much you respect them as a teacher, we are all human.  If it doesn't line up with what the word of God actually says then it is a doctrine based on tradition and not on God.  No matter what any book, commentary, sermon or person says, if it doesn't line up with the word of God then it isn't true.  I cannot emphasize enough that you can only live a victorious life as a disciple of Jesus Christ if you know what the Bible says for yourself and not only by hear say, rumor or second hand information.

We will be having Bible reading challenges on a regular basis here on our blog.  I hope that this will help many become people who LOVE the word of God for themselves :-)

Terrie