Frontline

“I read the Bible because it encourages me in everyday life and helps me through troubled times”

Ok, hands up those who like to read? Me? I love to read... but I know that not everyone’s keen to read a book, especially the Bible. The language of the Bible can seem outdated, boring, uninteresting... you might think “Ohhh, I can’t be bothered to read it today” but actually, the Bible is important. So, What does the Bible say about reading the Bible?

We looked recently and why we should pray, and the Bible not only forms the foundation of an effective prayer life but is important through every other part of christian life. Whilst prayer is our primary way of talking to God, the Bible is God’s primary way of talking to us.
2 Timothy 3 v 16-17 says; “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV)

. To know God better you must spend time hearing what He has to say. Reading the bible is one way of getting to know God better and for growing in our relationship with him. The Bible is His message to you. If you want Him to listen to what you have to say, you should also listen to what He has to say. There can be no relationship without communication.
Although God can also speak directly to your heart, you need to know His written Word so you can judge whether God is speaking to you, or the enemy is trying to deceive you.
God will not love you more because you read the Bible. It’s for your benefit — not required to make God love you. However, without reading the Bible, you will not grow spiritually, and you will be more easily deceived.

You always have time for what you consider important, your hair, make-up, computer games, homework, but your spiritual life is more important.

If we accept that the Bible is inspired by God, then His authority must flow from that. If it is God’s word then it must be our supreme authority for what we believe and how we act. God’s Word is truth (“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17 v 17). Don’t you want to know the truth? Why waste your time on lesser, unreliable things?