What compels you to read this ancient book? Or perhaps I might inquire as to the reason for your refusal to read the Bible. It is quite evident to me, as someone who teaches the Bible in the context of both the university and the church, that the majority of Christians do not place a significant emphasis on regularly reading their Bibles. In this article, I’d like to talk about some of the reasons why you should make reading the Bible on a regular basis a part of your spiritual practice, how you can make reading the Bible on a regular basis a habit in your life, and some different ways to approach the Bible. I’ll start with some of the reasons why you should read the Bible on a regular basis.
Reasons Why You Should Make It a Habit to Read the Bible
The things you read have an effect on you. Consider how you react whenever you read the news from your news feed. Reading the Bible on a daily and consistent basis is associated with a number of positive outcomes. To begin, the Bible reveals to us the nature of God and gives us access to the revelation that God made of himself to his people. The entirety of the Bible reveals aspects of God’s nature, including that He is holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious, and loving.
Second, in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, the book of Scripture is referred to be “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness). The completion and equipping “for every good work” is referenced in the verse that follows, indicating that this path ultimately leads to its desired destination (ESV).
Third, renewing our minds via consistent exposure to the Scriptures of God helps us to mature spiritually, which is an essential component of the Christian vocation (Ephesians 4:14–16; Romans 12:1–2). Have you ever talked to an experienced Christian who didn’t study the Bible on a regular basis? This list could easily contain dozens of additional reasons why you should make reading the Bible a daily part of your routine. These three reasons are actually only the beginning.
How to Make Reading the Bible a Regular Part of Your Life
Because reading the Bible is an act of spiritual discipline, we must be disciplined in our approach to it if we want to experience its full benefits. If you don’t have the desire to read the Bible, pray and beg God to give you a desire for his word so you can start reading it. The next step is to prioritize the time you set aside to read the Bible by scheduling it into your daily schedule. After that, you should look for people who will keep you accountable to a reading schedule. Perhaps you could get someone else involved in your reading challenge.
Taking the Proper Approach to Reading the Bible
Even if making regular Bible reading a part of your routine is a good place to start, it is equally as vital to approach the Bible in the right way. When reading the Bible, it is easy to get into the pattern of trying to concentrate solely on how the text can be applied. It is extremely necessary for a Christian to apply the teachings of the Bible to their lives; however, there are occasions when we may apply the Bible in a way that is either forced or not what we intended.
It is important to study full biblical books in order to prevent misapplying texts. When doing so, one should make an effort to grasp the text in light of both the immediate context in which it is found and the context of the entire biblical book. Always make sure to inquire about what the book has to say about the persona and makeup of God.
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