“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)
IT MAKES US STRONG
Nobody wants to be weak, not either physically or spiritually, along with prayer, reading the Bible is the most effective way of receiving spiritual strength. A large number of those who fail in their spiritual life fail because of the absence of the Word of God in their daily lives. They might have avoided these defeats if they had proposed to read and study the Bible consistently and in a disciplined manner; the daily reading of the Bible produces in our spiritual life, what daily food to our body: vitality and strength, because: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).
IT GIVES US CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE BELIEVE
The first difficulties that the new believer faces are the doubts as to what we believe. What is said and promised to who surrenders to Christ is very great and wonderful; so much that they seem to be a fantasy. It is very easy for the enemy to sow doubts in the heart if the scripture is not known with certainty. The more the scripture is known, the more solid our faith becomes; the more the Bible is understood, the more it becomes a part of us. If we desire to enjoy security in terms of salvation, faith, God's love, his forgiveness, his faithfulness and his compassion, we must begin to study the Word regularly, since it constitutes the only source to obtain this security.
IT GIVES US CONFIDENCE AND POWER IN PRAYER
The Lord said: "If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask what you want and it will be done” (John 15:7). This means that the study of the Bible gives us power in prayer, because reading it, Christ's words remain in us. The Bible tells us how to pray and how to do it successfully so God will answer us.
IT CLEANSES US OF SIN
The Word of God has a purifying effect in the believer; Jesus prayed saying:“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17). In some way the Word of God cleanses the believer while it passes through his mind and heart as he reads it. He becomes aware of what is good and what God does not like, and as an automatic process his commandments are engraved in the depths of our subconscious; and this, when the occasion to sin presents itself, he rejects it. Every new believer needs to know with clarity what sin is and what is not, God has not left it to our own discretion, but to his word. In the light of his word any doubt concerning the purity of anything of which we are not sure is cleared up. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” (Psalm 119: 9). He, who studies the Bible, will learn to distinguish what is sin and it he will be clean of his sin; since, on having learned to identify it, he will be able to avoid it. The Bible will drive us away from sin or sin will drive us away from the Bible.
IT GIVES US JOY
One of the blessings of the Christian life is joy; but often the problems of life drown it. Christ said: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). The reading of God’s Word brings joy to the heart, whatever the circumstances might be. Jeremiah said: “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” (15:16).
IT INFORMS US OF OUR DUTIES AS CHRISTIANS
The Bible is full of commandments that God established for his people to keep and obey. These commandments are for our good, and each of them was designed by the Lord to avoid some evil or suffering; so to obey them prolongs our life, it enriches us and what is more, it guarantees us eternal life. King David said: “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8). God said to Moses: “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15: 26).
IT INFORMS US OF WHAT BELONGS TO US AS CHILDREN OF GOD
The Bible is full of promises that belong to us as children of God. From beginning to end the scripture is saturated with blessings that The Lord promises to all those who love him. Despite the fact that the Lord promises us so many things, and that he has more to give us than what we have to ask him, there are still many who do not receive them nor do they enjoy them simply because they are unaware of them. The reading of the Word of God provides us information about all the blessings available to his children. Paul said: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthian 2: 9). Peter said: “(God) has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature ...” (II Peter 1: 4).
IT SHOWS US GOD'S WILL
God has a plan and purpose for each of his children, this plan and purpose the Bible calls “The Will of God”. In the pages of the Bible we find what the Will of God is for our life. If we want to know exactly what God wants to do in our life, our home, our hearth, work and church, we must look diligently in prayer for the Will of God in the Bible: “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2: 17).
IT GUIDES US IN LIFE'S DECISIONS
The Bible is the best manual on the human behavior that has ever been written, because it contains thousands of practical principles, of usefulness and permanent value for our daily life. These principles contains a wealth of divine knowledge which guides the believer and it helps him to program his behavior in advance, so that, when there comes a moment to make decisions, there is no need to undergo a distressing process of reflection to make the right decision. For the Christian who knows the Bible, the problem of making decisions is simplified. The Bible illuminates us. King David said on this matter: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105). God's council and principles serve us as a guide, and light our understanding to face and make decisions in our life. It is very good to prepare yourself to live in accordance with the Biblical principles, storing them in our hart in advance, before crises arise.
The Bible contains therefore a great number of commandments, advice and warnings for almost all situations which may arise in the course of our life. If every day we fill our mind with the Word of God, it will illuminate the dark paths of the future with direction and divine council, and we will avoid making wrong decisions. David said: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
IT ENABLES US TO GIVE EXPRESSION TO OUR FAITH
Many of the people around us do not know the Word of God; and in many cases you will be the only person who can speak to them about God, His love and what He wants to do in the life of man. You are responsible for communicating and conveying what you believe and have received from God to whom he needs to listen. Peter said: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…” (1 Peter 3: 15).
The only way to be able to: Answer the one that has doubts, to quiet the one who mocks, or guide the one that sincerely looks for the truth, will be being always prepared reading and studying every day the scripture. If you wish to share Christ with others effectively, it is indispensable that you at least have a basic knowledge of the Word of God.
IT GUARANTEES US SUCCESS
We all desire to have success in the field of activity that we have chosen. The reading of the Bible teaches us how to prosper and how to lead us so that everything well turn out well for us. God's secret on how to achieve success is revealed to us in the Bible. Throughout all the pages of the Bible lie embedded the deepest and most revealing councils of God to reach the peak of triumph.
Meditating or reflecting daily on the word of God will lead us to discover and decipher the Councils of God; and at the same time they are maintained fresh in our mind and heart, guaranteeing us the success that we all look for: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).
This kind of daily productivity is the result of feeding the mind every day with the Word of God. Regrettably many believers believe that they are too busy to devote time to the reading of the Bible and refreshing the mind every day with the Word of God. If only they understood that a moment of withdrawal with God daily will make your day more productive, you will yield more and obtain better results.
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