Top 5 Reasons to Read the Bible

God’s main reason for the bible is to speak to you and be in relationship with you. It is one very important way you get to know God and fall in love with the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. By opening the Bible you learn the voice of God.  

Due to the sin in the garden, God does not show up in physical form for you to talk to Him. Instead, just like any other relationship, you get to know a person by spending time with them, listening to their voice, and talking to them. One way God speaks to us is through His word. 2 Timothy 3:16 declares, "All Scripture is God-breathed." The Word of God is living and breathing. John 1:1 goes on by explaining, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Bible is not meant to be another book on your bookshelf or nightstand. Each day that you open it, God can reveal more to you about His character and faithfulness. 

Further into the book of John, it states "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice [Jesus]. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." (John 10:3-4, emphasis added) The Bible is the word of God. The voice of God. You get to know the voice of God by immersing yourself in it day after day because it is alive. Jesus is alive! God has new revelations waiting for you each day, and all you have to do is open up the Bible to receive them. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) The truth is Jesus is the Word. What better way to get to know and fall in love with Jesus than by reading from the Bible that He inspired. The Bible is a redemptive love story showing the reader how much he has loved us since the creation of time and how faithful and trustworthy he was, is, and is to come. The Bible is not like any other book you own. It is the written voice of God showing you how much He loves you and his written love letter to you. 

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We live not only in a physical world but also a spiritual world. Every choice you make is based on spiritual intentions even if you don’t think about it. We have a real enemy, the devil. The devil even has his own evil team tempting humans in hopes of stealing, killing, and destroying them. Priscilla Shirer explains in her Bible study The Armor of God : “He [the devil] carefully considers and calculates your current situation, taking into account your weaknesses and strengths, your interests and tendencies, your history and past abuses, everything Then, utilizing this available information, he crafts a specific strategy to hook you and reel you in.” The enemy doesn’t tempt you with things that look wrong. He tempts you with things that he knows you will succumb to if you are not equipped with the truth that penetrates your mind and soul.”

Since the devil is strategic, God has given you the power and tools to be offensive and defensive in the spiritual battle. He commands you in the Bible to armor up. The first piece of that armor that must be put on in order to allow all the other armor to work effectively is the Belt of Truth. The Belt of Truth is the spiritual armor that we should base all of our decisions off of. Ephesians 6:10-14 instructs us:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…”(emphasis added).

When you are tempted each day, hour, or even minute, the Belt of Truth allows you to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. It provides you with the strength to combat the devil’s lies and deception that you otherwise would not be able to do in your own flesh. It allows you to filter your thoughts and the words of others through it; illuminating what is right and true about you and your current situation. Overall, it gives you power to deflect the enemy's lies and walk in the truth and the purpose God has placed on your life.

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The Bible allows you to discern the correct path to take in your current and future situations. As David declares in the Psalms, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."(Psalm 119:105) The Bible provides discernment to differentiate between not only right and wrong but also between right and almost right. Satan’s deception does not always look wrong. Instead, it can look enticing and good. As stated in reason 2 “Be Spiritually Prepared and Armored,” the devil is very strategic in how he tempts you. Each of us has strengths, weaknesses, and sin that lure us. The devil knows what those are. He especially hits you with those enticing temptations when you aren’t armored up, you are tired, you are feeling weak, etc. He even knows how to distract and draw you away from the Lord and His purpose for you with things that look almost right. For example, he may have you volunteer to help out in church in order to take time away from something that God has called you to do instead. Helping out in church is not a sin, but not doing what God has called you to is as it is disobedience to Him.

The Bible won’t come out and say word for word what you are supposed to do.  However, it will shine light on what you are called to as a follower of Jesus. It reveals the truth of being a child of God. The Bible shows you how you are set apart as a daughter/son of the King of Kings and what that looks like. It guides you in your decision to reflect on "…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8) Additionally, it serves as a moral and ethical compass from the Old Testament to the New Testament revealing basic and deeper understandings of right and wrong as a believer. 

Note here though, there are things in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled in the New Testament that you no longer are commanded to do. By spending time in the Bible, you will better be able to decipher what moral and ethical laws Jesus still requires you to keep. He doesn’t force you to keep these laws as a way to rule over you. Instead, He gives you these rules and boundaries as a way to love and protect you from further temptation and walk in the abundant life He wants to freely give you.

God wants you to "Trust in the LORD [him] with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6). He lovingly wants to help you. He doesn’t want you to make decisions in isolation all by yourself. He wants to carry the weight of decisions and make it easier for you to see and walk in the right way to live. 

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The noise of the world tells all different “truths.” It can become overwhelming and leave your head swirling. You might feel confused about what is right and wrong for you to do or think in your day. Romans 12:2 states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (emphasis added) The devil likes nothing more than to fill your mind with lies about God, His Word, and yourself. He tries to tamper with your feelings and persuade you to make unstable choices. By filling your mind with worldly perspectives, culture, and language, he even influences your conscience to live in such a way that does not line up with biblical guidelines and boundaries. 

It is imperative that you get in the Bible each day. That way you can uproot any lies the Deceiver has infiltrated in your mind and replace them with biblical truth. God declared through Moses in Deuteronomy 6:4-8, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the rod, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." (emphasis added)

Moses was not talking figuratively in this portion of the Bible. He did not mean to tattoo them on your children, tie sticky notes of verses on your hands, or tattoo them on your forehead. Instead, he meant that you should reflect on them, cherish them, visually refer back to them, and never forget them. All of these require you to make an active choice in filling your heart, mind, and soul with God’s truths over your life.

It is very important that you take your thoughts, will, and actions to the Word each day. If you don’t, you will be tempted to walk in the “almost right” or even wrong as the devil’s lies will start to look like “truth.” The world will continue to lure you away from God’s best and abundance for your life if you don’t take purposeful inventory. Then, you will be able to uproot the lies and replace them with God’s truth.

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The Bible helps you learn more about yourself and who you are in him. It illuminates your truest identity as the “Daughter/Son of the King of Kings.” By immersing yourself in The Word, you develop your character and identity in Him. You will see and truly believe who God says you are and what He calls you to be. By developing your character and walking in your true identity, you will open up the abundance God wants to give you on this side of heaven. John 10:10: Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (emphasis added). The Bible goes on to add in 2 Corinthians 9:8, "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (emphasis added)

Who Does God Say You Are?

1. Chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
2. Adopted (Ephesians 1:5)
3. Redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
4. Loved (Romans 8:38)
5. Unique (Ephesians 2:10)
6. Enough and Powerful in Him (Corinthians 12:9)
7. Beautiful/Handsome (Song of Solomon 4:7)
8. Victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57)
9. Courageous (Joshua 1:9)
10. Child of God (Galatians 3:26)

As a child of God, reading your Bible is essential. There are countless reasons why you should read your Bible, but the first should not be to seek answers for your life. While that is part of it, there are a plethora of other reasons why you will want to savor The Word of God daily. The most important reason is to grow in your relationship with God and Jesus. You spend time with Jesus to know and hear His voice more clearly. Next, you prepare and equip yourself with The Belt of Truth tightened firmly around your waist, for when the devil tempts you with his strategic plan. As you walk through life with The Belt of Truth in place, God’s word will guide you by shedding light onto the path or step He wants you to take next. Each day, you renew your mind with God’s truth to protect you from the lies and patterns of this world. Finally, you study the scripture to shape your character and strengthen your identity, empowering you to live out your purpose on earth. 

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