Christian Living: Bible Reading
Why Read the Bible Daily: Reason 1
Children will often ask, unhappily, “Why do I have to ___ (fill in the blank)?” “Why do I have to make my bed?” “Why do I have to be home by 9:00?” A parent’s response will often be, “Because I told you so!” Now, in many situations a parent would do well to give a broader answer than that, but “Because I told you so” is a valid starting point. Similarly, when it comes to why we should read our Bibles daily there are many reasons for doing so, (we will look at some of those) but the first reason we should read our Bible’s daily is simply because…
- Bible reading is commanded by God.
Take a moment to think about that. GOD has told us to read his Word diligently. God, who is wise, who is good, who knows best, who wants our best -- that God has told us to give careful attention to his Word.
One of the most consistent themes of the Bible is that we are to live by what God says. The Bible tells us what he says. Now, if this is what God wants, you can be sure that Satan does not. In fact, the first temptation recorded in the Bible is Satan’s enticement of Eve not to do what God had said. God wants one thing; Satan wants the opposite. It would be good to ask, “ Who is pleased with my effort or non-effort?”
This theme is found consistently in Scripture after Adam and Eve’s sin. For example, right after God commands his chosen people to love him, “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,” he immediately commands, “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 road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). In other words, there is a link between loving God and knowing and living his commands. This is why Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). We are to teach disciples to obey everything he has commanded because that is what love for Jesus does (Matt. 28:19-20).
We could go further in the Old Testament and recall that when Joshua prepared to lead God’s people into the Promised Land, he was told that the way to prosperity and success was to, “meditate on this book of the Law” day and night (Joshua 1:8). Once established in the land the kings of Israel were required to personally write out their own copy of the law of God (the Torah) and then keep it with them in order to read it every day (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). God’s blessing depended on that. The Jewish people eventually lost the Promised Land for one reason; they did not listen to God’s word, and their kings led them that way. If we skip past this same message in the Old Testament prophets, we read of Jesus correcting the misconception that he had come to abolish the law, meaning the whole Bible up to that point. No, he said, he had come to fulfill it. He went on to say that you will be least or greatest in his kingdom based on whether you set aside even the least commands of God or put them into practice (Matthew 5:17-20). You also can be great or least in the kingdom.
There is a great deal at stake for you and me when it comes to Bible reading. Without reading regularly, we do not have God’s best. Period. And without exception, those who are “great” in God’s kingdom are those who daily read, or think upon, and live by God’s Word. They are not merely affirmed as great; they have actual greatness in their souls.