The Bible brings hope and instruction for the Christian, but it can be overwhelming to pick it up and begin reading. Let’s discover why and how we are to read the Bible.
Why We Should Read the Bible
When God created us, He didn’t leave us to figure out life on our own. He is not only present and active in our lives, but he has gifted us with His word. He gave us His word to reveal Himself and his plan for redemption to us. The Bible also shows us how to live a godly life and gives encouragement to God’s people. These reasons alone should prompt us to open God’s word for ourselves, but the Bible itself commands the reading of scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
John 17:17: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
How the Bible Transforms Lives
The Bible shows us who God is and what he loves. Through the story of creation, death, redemption, and restoration, God gives us reason to have hope among the brokenness of the world. When we read this truth, it transforms our lives and shows us how we should live so that we may give glory to God.
Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant Reformation with his 95 Theses, ultimately found his call for action in the Bible. At a time when most people did not have access to the word of God in their language, Luther saw the inerrant, necessary truth of scripture and fought to educate others about the importance of reading scripture for themselves. Luther let the Bible change his life and then the course of the church. Now, thanks to Luther and others who were passionate about the truth, we have access to God’s word and can read its life-renewing truth for ourselves. And the work still continues as Christians strive to make the Bible accessible to all people, in all languages.
A recent study has shown that reading the Bible four times a week has significant spiritual benefits. It significantly increases scripture memorization, discipling others, and sharing your faith. Reading the Bible also majorly decreases feelings of being spiritually stagnant, reduces anxiety, and reduces feelings of loneliness.
6 Proven Benefits of Bible-Reading
How to Start Reading the Bible
Now let’s discover how to read this transforming word.
Below are four plans for how to incorporate these different methods into your Bible reading routine on your own and with your community.
Choose a Bible Plan
The most common way to read the Bible is to simply pick it up and read it on your own. It can be overwhelming to figure out where to start, so it is helpful to choose a plan to make your way through the Bible. Set small goals for yourself to create a consistent habit of time with God through Bible reading. This time can also include prayer, asking God to open your eyes that you may behold the wondrous things out of His law (Psalm 119:18). Also, a great way to engage with the Bible as a family is to follow along with The Family Reading of Scripture.
Go Through a Commentary
Another reason it can be intimidating to read scripture is because it can be confusing or difficult to understand. There are excellent commentaries and resources to look to when you come across a difficult passage or you want deeper understanding. The Blue Letter Bible contains many great tools for Bible reading, including commentaries and translation comparisons. This can also be a wonderful opportunity for discussion among your family or friends.
Read the Bible Aloud
In biblical times, common people did not have personal Bibles. So, to hear the word of God, people would travel listen to a priest read scripture aloud. This is now an uncommon practice, but hearing the Bible read aloud can still be beneficial. The Public Reading of Scripture is a simple way to listen to the Bible if you are on the go or need a different method of Bible reading. Or you can incorporate your family or church community to take turns reading scripture and listening.
Meditate on Scripture
Meditating on God’s word is an important discipline that is described in Psalm 1. But what exactly does it mean to meditate on God’s word? John Piper describes this concept as, “meditating on the word of God day and night means to speak to yourself the word of God day and night and to speak to yourself about it.” One way to begin meditating on God’s word is to memorize a passage or two that you can remind yourself of often. You can only constantly meditate on scripture if you know it in the first place.
God gave us a great gift in His written word. This should inspire gratefulness in us and encourage us to grow closer to Him, whether through consistent Bible reading, studying, or engaging in scripture in a new way. Of course, none of us are perfect, so when you forget to read your Bible or get discouraged, just remember that the Lord is gracious and His love for you is not contingent upon how often you read the Bible.
Ligonier Ministries wrote, “May we approach Scripture as those who love God and desire to know Him more, as those who desire transformation into the image of Christ, and as those who know that the Holy Spirit uses the word to strengthen His people to endure to the end.” Reading the Bible is not intended to be something that you simply check off your list, but a way for you to learn more about our great God and be sanctified in Him.
