Reading the bible should be one of our top priorities every morning and every evening. This is a topic that I am struggling with and trying to resolve in my own life. When I was younger the Bible was a very boring book so to speak , but now that I am older and trying to spend more time in and with this book , the pages are starting to become alive.
Why do you read the Bible? Or maybe I should ask the question, why do you not read the Bible? As a modern day Christian it has become clear that many Christians do not take reading their Bibles seriously. In this article , I want to discuss why it is so important for us to read the "Good book" on a regular basis , how to make a habit of it and how to approach the Bible.
Why should we read the Bible regularly ?
What you read impacts you and alternates your thoughts . Think about how you feel when watching the news , Instagram or even reading a WhatsApp or two.
Reading the Bible on a regular and consistent basis has several benefits. First, the Bible shows us God’s character and provides us God’s revelation of himself to his people. In each section of the Bible, we see God’s holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious and loving character.
Second, 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when discussing the topic of Scripture says that it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” The next verse goes on to say that this leads to the completeness and equipping “for every good work” (ESV).
Third, regularly reading God’s word reorients our thinking so that we can grow in maturity, which is part of the Christian calling (Ephesians 4:14–16; Romans 12:1–2). Have you ever met a mature Christian who did not regularly read the Bible? These three things are really just the beginning, this list could include dozens of reasons why you should read the Bible on a regular basis.
How to make reading a habit
Reading the Bible is a spiritual discipline, which means that we need to be disciplined in how we approach it. If you lack the desire to read the Bible, pray and ask that God would give you a desire for his word. Then, build a time into your day to read Scripture and make this time a priority. You should then find people to hold you accountable to a reading plan. Maybe even start a reading plan with someone.
Approaching the Bible Correctly
While reading the Bible on a regular basis is a great start, it is also important to approach the Bible in a proper manner. It is easy to get into a habit of trying to focus only on application when reading the Bible. It is absolutely necessary for the Christian to apply the Bible to his or her life, but sometimes we can make applications that are forced or unintended.
In order to avoid misapplication of texts, it is good to read whole biblical books and try to understand the text in light of both its immediate context and in light of the entire biblical book. Always ask what the text says about the character and nature of God. Many times it is best to do external research on a text as well , get some different opinions.
In the past few months I have tried reading as much and understanding the Bible and have tried to make a good summary of the books. My notes will soon be available to you. For now , take your own journey , learn through and with God , the best teacher we will ever have.
James 1:5 (NIV) - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
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