
Things my Dad Taught Me
June 19, 2011
Walking on Water
July 17, 2011
I want to take a few minutes to emphasize the importance of spending time in God’s Word. From the time that we become Christians we hear people telling us to read the Bible. But what we often do not hear is the reasons why reading God’s Word is so important. So, I want to outline four reasons why every believer should spend time in the Word on a regular basis:
1. Revelation of God
The first reason that we should be in the Word is to get an accurate understanding of God. The Bible is God’s revelation to mankind. God desires to communicate with us, and the primary way that He does it is through His Word. When we read the Bible we should ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us and open up our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Reading the Bible is not an end in itself; it should lead us into deeper knowledge of God, and should draw us into a closer intimacy with Him.
2. Spiritual Nourishment
The Word of God is compared to milk (1 Peter 2:2), bread (Matthew 4:4), and solid food (Hebrews 5:12). The analogy is clear: the Word is to our spirit what food is to our body. How healthy would you be physically if you ate food the same way that you read the Bible? If we want to grow and be nourished spiritually we must spend time in the Word. A sermon on Sunday is not enough…try eating once a week and see how your body would react!
3. A Solid Foundation
In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus tells the story of a wise man who built his house on the rock, and a foolish man who built his house on the sand. In the story, the wise man represents the person who hears the Word and obeys it, while the foolish man hears the Word and does not obey it. God’s Word is meant to be a solid foundation upon which to build our lives. When our lives our built upon the rock of the Word (by hearing and obeying) we will be able to withstand the storms of life and will not succumb to the various “winds of doctrine” floating around that seek to derail us.
4. A Weapon Against Temptation
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he answered all three temptations by saying “It is written” and then quoting a Scripture. This is the same way that we can overcome temptation, by using the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (see Ephesians 6:17). But how can we use God’s Word like a sword if we do not know it? We must hide the Word in our hearts, so that when the time of temptation comes we can use it as a weapon against the enemy.
I could name other reasons why it is important to read the Bible. But the main point I want to make is that it is not out of legalistic duty that we are supposed to read the Bible, but because our spiritual lives depend on it. We need the Word! “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). I encourage you to take time every day to meditate on God’s Word.
5 Comments
Jake, thank you for adding me to your mailing list. Indeed, the word is essential to our spiritual growth. I am so glad that God has given us the tools we need to live the lives we truly desire.
Thanks for a good word on the importance of THE WORD!!! It really is our privilege to have access to God’s word and yet it is so easy to be “too busy”. I needed this, thanks 🙂
[…] Reading the Bible is a fundamental part of growing in our relationship with God, and there is no substitute for this spiritual discipline. But I have found that reading Christian books has been a huge help in my spiritual journey as well. I am constantly reading books that help me to grow in my walk with God and ministry. One of the reasons I decided to write and publish books of my own is because I have been so impacted by reading. […]
[…] on your own, Bible study with others, or hearing preaching or teaching from the Word. The Bible is the foundation for our walk with God but not the only way that He communicates with us. Some think that since we […]
[…] two most basic spiritual disciplines are reading the Bible and spending time alone with God in prayer. These are foundational practices that every Christian […]