Christian Living: Bible Reading
Why Read the Bible Daily: Reasons 2 and 3
In our last reading, we observed that our first reason for reading the Bible daily is simply because God has commanded us to do so. That should be all the motivation we need, but there are other reasons as well.
- Bible reading reveals God to us.
In the Bible God reveals who he is, how he interacts with people, and how we can live in a personal relationship with him. As we read the Bible, we encounter God. He speaks to us. That is a profound and transforming experience.
Have you seen those short video clips online titled something like, “When my girlfriend sees me.” A series of clips start the same way. The camera is on a young (usually) lady standing or walking in a mall or some other place. She is unaware that a camera is on her. She looks pensive or distracted, bored or serious, but when she glances up and sees her boyfriend her demeanor changes completely. The frown disappears, her face breaks into a big smile, her heart visibly soars with happiness as she begins to walk, or jog, towards her boyfriend. In a similar way, when we encounter God in his Word our state of mind and heart are quite changed. Our anxiety subsides, fear is replaced with courage, our hearts may begin to fill with peace, our attitude towards sin is sobered, our aspirations improve, joy will often fill our hearts, our mood changes noticeably, and we are drawn to God.
We will find God in the Bible. The Bible will reveal to us his power, his wisdom, supremacy, sovereignty, holiness, faithfulness, graciousness, goodness, patience, grace, mercy, love and wrath. When we see God, we live in the real world. More than anything else in life we need a large view of God.
- Bible reading nourishes us spiritually.
Spiritual life must be fed in order to grow and stay healthy. This is what Jesus implied when he said, “It is written: `Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4)”. We are body and soul beings and we must feed both. Just as our bodies are satisfied and kept healthy by eating physical food, so also our souls are satisfied and kept healthy as we absorb God’s Word. Peter echoed this reality when he said, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2, NASB).
I first memorized Peter’s statement as a young adult and I wondered, “How do newborns long for milk?” At the time a friend of mine had only recently given birth to her first child and so I asked her. She replied, with a note of exhaustion in her voice, “Always and constantly!” That is how we are to long for God’s Word. If we do, it will nourish us spiritually. It will satisfy us and keep us healthy. According to Jesus, we cannot be healthy otherwise.