Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
I Timothy 4:15
Reading and studying the Word of God is essential to the life of a Christian. What food and water are to the body, Bible study and prayer are to the inner man. Job realized his need for the Word of God so completely that he declared, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips, for I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 32:12)
Although Bible study is so integral to our living as Christians, failure in this area is all too regular for most believers. Fitting Bible study into one’s schedule is considered to be a problem. However, the true problem is viewing it as a problem. Making time for God’s Word is, in fact, the solution to this and every other problem that we face in life.
Whatever is most important to us is what we will give the greatest time and effort to. The matter of Bible study is a matter of priorities. If we are to make it a practice to study the Word of God, we must make our relationship with the Lord more important than anything else in our lives. More important than sleep, more important than an activity, more important than our tight schedules, more important than personal comfort and pleasure. When God’s Word becomes a priority to us, we won't allow anything keep us from devoting to it the time that we should. We will make every effort to study it with faithful diligence.
When we come to the realization of just how precious and essential the Word of God is to our lives, everything will change. We will become passionate about reading it daily, memorizing it deep into our hearts, meditating upon it through our days, and living it as a way of life. Each new truth we learn as we sit under preaching and study for ourselves
becomes ours, a personal possession, one we should guard jealously lest Satan snatch it away.
Bible truths are built into our lives as the framework of all that we are. Without these truths, we would collapse. What a hopeless mess our lives would be without the Word of God! We would have nowhere to go to find hope and truth. But we do have the Bible, and we need to read it like our lives depend upon it -- as our lives most certainly do. We need God's Word. It is vital. We cannot do without it! It is everything.
How do we reach the point where we, as Job, sense our spirit’s great need for the Word of God? We must gain a spiritual appetite for the Bible. We have to want the Word of God like we want anything else we crave. Jesus gave a wonderful promise in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” To be hungry and thirsty to know God is to be blessed. That empty, aching void in our spirits is a blessing because it drives us on to seek after God. And He promised that He will never fail to supply what we need. He will fill us if we will only earnestly seek Him.
People have many excuses for their failure to read and study the Bible. A lack of basic knowledge, limited time, and plain ol' laziness are a few things which hinder a Christian’s study of the Bible. Some problems which people face are very real. However, no excuse or problem is so great that the Word of God does not have the solution for it.
Some Christians who have been saved a short time intend to follow a plan of reading the through the Bible in its entirety, beginning in Genesis. This is an excellent goal that every believer should strive for. However, suppose a person desires to begin competing in long-distance running. He cannot simply jump into a race and expect to reach the finish line without a struggle. He has a goal that is a great way off and it is necessary that he prepares and conditions himself for the race. The same is generally true of a new Christian endeavoring to read the Bible through. If a person lacks foundational knowledge necessary for understanding the books of the Law and Prophecy, he will struggle to reach his goal and perhaps even give up before he finishes.
It is important that those new to Bible reading first acquire an understanding of the basic structure of the Bible. It is recommended to those who have recently been saved to read books such as the Gospel of John and I John which give a strong basis to the assurance of salvation. Genesis, literally, is the book of beginnings and is foundational to all of Scripture. Books such as Ephesians and I Peter help a new Christian to have a personal walk with the Lord and secure a knowledge of foundational doctrines. Another good plan for a new Christian is to read through a particular book of the Bible several times in a single month, seeking to understand the theme, outline, and spiritual riches of the book.
I have my personal devotions in the morning. After a time of prayer, I read one chapter from Psalms, one chapter from Proverbs, and several chapters from both the Old and New Testaments, following a plan laid out for the year. As I read, I journal my thoughts, list promises and other meaningful verses, and make notes for further Bible study. I use a Bible software program called SwordSearcher primarily for Bible study, referring to the numerous commentaries and Bible study helps it offers.
Something new I have begun -- well, it's certainly not new as in "original" -- it's something that's always been there and always been true! But, as I was listening to an excellent sermon by Dr. S. M. Davis titled How to Get or Give Wise Counsel, he brought a very powerful truth to my attention. Psalm 119:24 says, "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors." The testimonies of the Word of God are the many accounts given of personal lives. The Bible tells us we can seek counsel from these testimonies like we ought to seek counsel from wise people in our own lives. This counsel from the Word of God is a powerful thing. Proverbs 3:32 tells us, "For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous." God gives His secret counsel to those who are wise enough and hungry enough to seek it. He will whisper the hidden truths of His Word to us if we will simply do our part.
How many testimonies do you think the Bible holds? Countless! We can find testimonies throughout the entire Bible, one after the other, and every single one is applicable to our lives. These testimonies in the Bible are full of principles that we are to follow. Principles never change; they will always be true, whether four thousand years ago or today in the twenty-first century. They teach us how to live a life pleasing to God, how to respond rightly in so many different situations, how to train children, how to run our government -- there are all kinds of counsel in the testimonies of the Bible. God did not put these stories in His Word just to fill up space! God's testimonies are our counselors. We need to listen attentively to preaching, hoping for a new word of counsel with each sermon. We need to study actively or we will miss the basic principles that will help us so much. They are there! There are so many things that we can learn if we will let the Spirit of God open our eyes to them. We need to pray earnestly like the psalmist, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Ps. 119:18)
So, to explain where I left off (smile), something new I have begun during my daily reading is to attentively look for these testimonies, the precious secret counsel of God to me. Pen and paper in hand, I write down the principles I find. I consider the different situations involved in the testimony, and I seek to apply them to my own life in specific ways. I have only just begun and I am excited! I can't wait to hear all the good counsel God wants to give me so that I can live my life pleasing to Him.
I realize this is not an original idea. I'm sure that recognizing principles as we read the Bible is something we all do. But the key here is to see these principles deliberately and make them a real thing in our lives. God desires to counsel us. Let's be open to all He has to give us. Oh, the verse is so true, "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors."
Some people admit that they get very little out of their Bible reading. They are faithful to their daily Bible reading plan, but due to distraction or monotony they fail to focus upon the Word of God and receive a blessing from it. It is needful that we put whole-hearted desire and effort into studying God’s Word.
We express by our attitude of Bible study that we somehow expect God, without any effort on our part, to cram the truths we so need into our hearts and minds. While we must be dependent upon the Holy Spirit to guide and enlighten us as we read and study the Bible, we must not hold the Lord exclusively responsible for meeting our spiritual needs. A “new-born” Christian may need to be “spoon fed” for a short time, but later he is responsible for feeding himself spiritually from the Word of God.
There are simple ways to consistently study the Word of God. A wonderful habit to make during daily Bible reading is to list promises and commands as they are discovered. Another help to Bible study is to implement a journal in which to write down thoughts and impressions as the Word is read. A journal is also an excellent way to record verses which are especially meaningful and require further study for a full understanding. Some Bible study aids include commentaries, a dictionary, and a concordance.
We cannot read God’s Word in idleness and expect Him to give us what we need. It just doesn't work that way, folks. We must read actively with a ready will. Our appetite for the Bible will grow as the Holy Spirit within us grows and fills us. Only then will God be able to truly open His Word to us and satisfy our hunger.
We should each decide upon a definite Bible reading plan
suitable to our
individual needs. Reading through the Bible in a year is a wonderful
goal and is not difficult to achieve if we are committed. This plan
yields many blessings to us in our daily walk with the Lord. There are
so many other things that we can incorporate into our daily reading that
will benefit us in wonderful ways. Seek out ways that you will help you
the most and apply them to your study of the Word of God. You will be
blessed!
Another reason Christians fail to study the Bible is that they lack a simple strategy. When we think of the word study, we think of a nerve-wracking ordeal. The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, stated in no uncertain terms in Ecclesiastes 12:12 that “Much study is a weariness of the flesh.” What brings weariness to the flesh, however, brings rest and joy to the spirit of man. The word study in II Timothy 2:15 means “to make effort, to be prompt or earnest, to be diligent, to endeavor, to labor.” Studying the Word of God does require work -- I won't lie to you -- but truly there is no work that yields greater blessings than obeying this command of God.
The solution for this excuse does not have to be complicated, not by any means. It is best to begin with something basic. For example, do a topic study (e.g., the parables of Christ) or a word study (e.g., grace). Is there a certain sin you struggle with? Do a study on how others overcame that sin in the Bible, and how the Lord gave them strength and enabled them to overcome. Do a simple study on something that particularly commands your interest, or a study on something you especially need spiritually.
Oftentimes the most straightforward methods yield the greatest results. When beginning to study the Bible, make it as uncomplicated yet still as rich as possible. As we grow in wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of God reveals to us richer, more glorious truths, “yea, the deep things of God” (II Cor. 2:10).
God does not give us commands we are unable to obey. There are things which may hinder us from doing what we should, but there is no obstacle so great that the Lord cannot help us to get around it. Obedience requires great effort but we never have to struggle alone. We receive strength as we study and grow in God’s Word, enabling us to attain greater heights.
There are many reasons why we must read the Bible. God does not suggest that we read and study His Word; He commands it. Studying the Word of God is wholly to our benefit. It is because the Lord longs for us to be blessed that He requires that we study His Word.
Obeying the Bible is our surest source of blessing and success in life. On the other hand, our lives will not prosper if we do not read the Bible and follow its commands. After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua who was to be the new leader of Israel. In Joshua 1:8 God commanded Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua was a successful leader only because he was faithful to obey the Word of God. If he had ignored God’s commandments, he surely would have failed in leading Israel into conquering the land promised to them. Psalm 1:1-3 says that the man who delights in the law of the LORD is blessed and “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The Lord desires to make our lives prosperous and rich with blessing, but we must fulfill the conditions He has determined. God has given His Word to us that we may find success in obeying it.
There is a continual struggle taking place within us, a battle between our spirit and our flesh. Our spirit must be “fed” and strengthened through the study of God’s Word or our flesh will naturally have the mastery over our lives. The Word of God is spirit and life to the inner man. Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” It is only through growing spiritually strong the Word of God that we can win in the battle against the flesh.
There are countless other reasons why we should study the Bible. The Father abides in us and shows His love to us through His Word (John 14:23). We must be in God’s Word if we are to expect answers to prayer. Christ promised in John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” We receive peace through the Word of God (John 16:33). Studying the Word is a sure way of receiving God’s approval (II Timothy 2:15). The Bible is our source of joy when we face trials and difficulties (Jer. 15:15-16). By studying God’s Word, we will be prepared to answer those who question our faith (I Pet. 3:15). God’s Word cleanses and sanctifies us of sin. Jesus said in John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Again, in John 17:17, He said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
The command God gives Christians to study the His Word is not something we should view in a negative light. When we fail to see this command as one yielding great blessing to us spiritually, our flesh will bring up excuses as to why we should not obey the Lord. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth concerning Bible study, as revealed in the Word of God, will make us free from our excuses and failure.
We cannot grow spiritually unless we study the Bible. The time and diligence given to Bible study is in direct relation to our spiritual maturity. Studying the Bible gives a firm foundation to our faith and convictions.
It is critical that we be strong in the doctrine of God’s Word. We will be led astray if we do not mature spiritually in our knowledge of the Bible. Peter warned, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” (II Pet. 3:17) There are many who “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14), desiring to lead God’s people astray from the truth. We cannot determine between true and false doctrine unless we know what God says, as revealed to us in His Word.
For example, if you do not understand the doctrinal truth of the rapture, you can be easily misled. Speaking of the rapture of the church in Mark 13:32-33, Jesus said, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Jesus told us clearly and specifically that no man can guess the date or the time when Christ will come to catch His bride away. For that reason, we are to be always ready and anticipating that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. If you do not know this truth, you will believe anyone who claims they know specifically when Christ will come.
In the Bible we read many accounts where God spoke to people through visions and angel visitations, and we read how God gave men wisdom to interpret dreams. However, around the year A.D. 95 God completed the writing of the Scriptures with the revelation given to the apostle John. We no longer need visions or signs to know what God requires of us. God no longer speaks to man in such ways. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us clearly, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." God speaks to us today through His Son Who is the Word of God. (John 1:1) Since people then did not have the completed Bible as we do today, God used to speak directly to prophets through visions and angelic messengers, and those prophets would then in turn give God's message to the people. But now we have every single word and every single truth that God wants us to have, all bound together in one Book called the Bible. What a priceless treasure!
We simply do not need visions today. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, "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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The Word of God is all that we need for doctrine, telling us what is right; for reproof, telling us what is wrong; for correction, to make right what is wrong; and for instruction in righteousness, helping us to stay right in the truth. If we read the Bible and live the Bible, God tell us we will lack nothing that we need. The Bible is all that we need!
It goes without saying, but certainly needs mentioning, that the Holy Spirit never leads anyone contrary to the Word of God. Understanding this simple truth will protect you against whatever false teachers might say, claiming to have received a private revelation from God. II Peter 1:20 tells us, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." No one can claim a special revelation from God, such as a vision or a heavenly message. For example, the founder of Mormonism, a man named Joseph Smith, claimed to have been visited by an angel, and from that point he formed the whole deceptive, corrupting, blasphemous cult of Mormonism. The first thing you should think at any such a claim is that any statement contrary to the Word of God is a lie. There is only one Bible which gives each one of us the same infallible truths and commands. If anyone today is going to hear from God, it is going to be through the Word of God.
Now, because we know that God no longer speaks through dreams, visions, and angels, we should give no credibility to any such thing. People might come to you with their "experience," but if you have any spiritual discernment you will sense by just what spirit that experience was manifested. Since the very beginning of the world in the Garden of Eden, Satan has sought to destroy God's Word and deceive man, and has he ever been successful. Satan and his demons are able to work miracles, foretell events, reveal secrets, and give signs that appear good. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (II Cor. 11:14) Never, never, never believe anything that opposes God's Word. However remarkable or even innocent it may seem, never believe anyone who says they have had a vision or visitation. It is not of God! To reiterate, we no longer need visions; the Bible is all that we need. And if you are ever going to know what is true and what is not, you are just going to have to sit yourself down and get in the Book! =)
The Bible is both milk and meat and is able to provide for the growing needs of our spirit. Growth is impossible without Bible study. If a Christian does not study God’s Word, he remains a spiritual “baby” in Christ. A baby needs milk only until he has grown strong enough to need more sustaining food. The Bible is our meat and manna; it contains everything we need to become strong, healthy and whole in our walk with God.
We are personally responsible for our growth in the Lord. II Peter 3:18 tells us, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Growth in grace depends upon growth in knowledge. Bible study is absolutely essential to spiritual maturity. It makes us strong in our faith and keeps us from falling into false doctrine. It nourishes us spiritually and helps us to grow. It gives us joy and comfort. Its glorious truths deliver us from Satan's deceptive lies! The Bible is wonderful, powerful, forever settled -- and it is ours, the most priceless treasure we own! Our lives depend upon it. We cannot rightly live for God without studying the Word of God.
The Bible has a solution for every problem that we face and is able to make our every excuse inadequate. There truly is no excuse for not studying the Bible; it is every Christian’s responsibility and delight. When we come to realize what a privilege it is to hold the Word of God in our hands, and what a necessity it is to the life of our spirit growing within us, we will allow nothing to prevent us from studying its precious, glorious, life-changing truths.
Although Bible study is so integral to our living as Christians, failure in this area is all too regular for most believers. Fitting Bible study into one’s schedule is considered to be a problem. However, the true problem is viewing it as a problem. Making time for God’s Word is, in fact, the solution to this and every other problem that we face in life.
Whatever is most important to us is what we will give the greatest time and effort to. The matter of Bible study is a matter of priorities. If we are to make it a practice to study the Word of God, we must make our relationship with the Lord more important than anything else in our lives. More important than sleep, more important than an activity, more important than our tight schedules, more important than personal comfort and pleasure. When God’s Word becomes a priority to us, we won't allow anything keep us from devoting to it the time that we should. We will make every effort to study it with faithful diligence.
When we come to the realization of just how precious and essential the Word of God is to our lives, everything will change. We will become passionate about reading it daily, memorizing it deep into our hearts, meditating upon it through our days, and living it as a way of life. Each new truth we learn as we sit under preaching and study for ourselves
becomes ours, a personal possession, one we should guard jealously lest Satan snatch it away.Bible truths are built into our lives as the framework of all that we are. Without these truths, we would collapse. What a hopeless mess our lives would be without the Word of God! We would have nowhere to go to find hope and truth. But we do have the Bible, and we need to read it like our lives depend upon it -- as our lives most certainly do. We need God's Word. It is vital. We cannot do without it! It is everything.
How do we reach the point where we, as Job, sense our spirit’s great need for the Word of God? We must gain a spiritual appetite for the Bible. We have to want the Word of God like we want anything else we crave. Jesus gave a wonderful promise in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” To be hungry and thirsty to know God is to be blessed. That empty, aching void in our spirits is a blessing because it drives us on to seek after God. And He promised that He will never fail to supply what we need. He will fill us if we will only earnestly seek Him.
People have many excuses for their failure to read and study the Bible. A lack of basic knowledge, limited time, and plain ol' laziness are a few things which hinder a Christian’s study of the Bible. Some problems which people face are very real. However, no excuse or problem is so great that the Word of God does not have the solution for it.
Some Christians who have been saved a short time intend to follow a plan of reading the through the Bible in its entirety, beginning in Genesis. This is an excellent goal that every believer should strive for. However, suppose a person desires to begin competing in long-distance running. He cannot simply jump into a race and expect to reach the finish line without a struggle. He has a goal that is a great way off and it is necessary that he prepares and conditions himself for the race. The same is generally true of a new Christian endeavoring to read the Bible through. If a person lacks foundational knowledge necessary for understanding the books of the Law and Prophecy, he will struggle to reach his goal and perhaps even give up before he finishes.
It is important that those new to Bible reading first acquire an understanding of the basic structure of the Bible. It is recommended to those who have recently been saved to read books such as the Gospel of John and I John which give a strong basis to the assurance of salvation. Genesis, literally, is the book of beginnings and is foundational to all of Scripture. Books such as Ephesians and I Peter help a new Christian to have a personal walk with the Lord and secure a knowledge of foundational doctrines. Another good plan for a new Christian is to read through a particular book of the Bible several times in a single month, seeking to understand the theme, outline, and spiritual riches of the book.
I have my personal devotions in the morning. After a time of prayer, I read one chapter from Psalms, one chapter from Proverbs, and several chapters from both the Old and New Testaments, following a plan laid out for the year. As I read, I journal my thoughts, list promises and other meaningful verses, and make notes for further Bible study. I use a Bible software program called SwordSearcher primarily for Bible study, referring to the numerous commentaries and Bible study helps it offers.
Something new I have begun -- well, it's certainly not new as in "original" -- it's something that's always been there and always been true! But, as I was listening to an excellent sermon by Dr. S. M. Davis titled How to Get or Give Wise Counsel, he brought a very powerful truth to my attention. Psalm 119:24 says, "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors." The testimonies of the Word of God are the many accounts given of personal lives. The Bible tells us we can seek counsel from these testimonies like we ought to seek counsel from wise people in our own lives. This counsel from the Word of God is a powerful thing. Proverbs 3:32 tells us, "For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous." God gives His secret counsel to those who are wise enough and hungry enough to seek it. He will whisper the hidden truths of His Word to us if we will simply do our part.
How many testimonies do you think the Bible holds? Countless! We can find testimonies throughout the entire Bible, one after the other, and every single one is applicable to our lives. These testimonies in the Bible are full of principles that we are to follow. Principles never change; they will always be true, whether four thousand years ago or today in the twenty-first century. They teach us how to live a life pleasing to God, how to respond rightly in so many different situations, how to train children, how to run our government -- there are all kinds of counsel in the testimonies of the Bible. God did not put these stories in His Word just to fill up space! God's testimonies are our counselors. We need to listen attentively to preaching, hoping for a new word of counsel with each sermon. We need to study actively or we will miss the basic principles that will help us so much. They are there! There are so many things that we can learn if we will let the Spirit of God open our eyes to them. We need to pray earnestly like the psalmist, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Ps. 119:18)
So, to explain where I left off (smile), something new I have begun during my daily reading is to attentively look for these testimonies, the precious secret counsel of God to me. Pen and paper in hand, I write down the principles I find. I consider the different situations involved in the testimony, and I seek to apply them to my own life in specific ways. I have only just begun and I am excited! I can't wait to hear all the good counsel God wants to give me so that I can live my life pleasing to Him.
I realize this is not an original idea. I'm sure that recognizing principles as we read the Bible is something we all do. But the key here is to see these principles deliberately and make them a real thing in our lives. God desires to counsel us. Let's be open to all He has to give us. Oh, the verse is so true, "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors."
Some people admit that they get very little out of their Bible reading. They are faithful to their daily Bible reading plan, but due to distraction or monotony they fail to focus upon the Word of God and receive a blessing from it. It is needful that we put whole-hearted desire and effort into studying God’s Word.
We express by our attitude of Bible study that we somehow expect God, without any effort on our part, to cram the truths we so need into our hearts and minds. While we must be dependent upon the Holy Spirit to guide and enlighten us as we read and study the Bible, we must not hold the Lord exclusively responsible for meeting our spiritual needs. A “new-born” Christian may need to be “spoon fed” for a short time, but later he is responsible for feeding himself spiritually from the Word of God.
There are simple ways to consistently study the Word of God. A wonderful habit to make during daily Bible reading is to list promises and commands as they are discovered. Another help to Bible study is to implement a journal in which to write down thoughts and impressions as the Word is read. A journal is also an excellent way to record verses which are especially meaningful and require further study for a full understanding. Some Bible study aids include commentaries, a dictionary, and a concordance.
We cannot read God’s Word in idleness and expect Him to give us what we need. It just doesn't work that way, folks. We must read actively with a ready will. Our appetite for the Bible will grow as the Holy Spirit within us grows and fills us. Only then will God be able to truly open His Word to us and satisfy our hunger.
We should each decide upon a definite Bible reading plan
suitable to our
individual needs. Reading through the Bible in a year is a wonderful
goal and is not difficult to achieve if we are committed. This plan
yields many blessings to us in our daily walk with the Lord. There are
so many other things that we can incorporate into our daily reading that
will benefit us in wonderful ways. Seek out ways that you will help you
the most and apply them to your study of the Word of God. You will be
blessed!Another reason Christians fail to study the Bible is that they lack a simple strategy. When we think of the word study, we think of a nerve-wracking ordeal. The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, stated in no uncertain terms in Ecclesiastes 12:12 that “Much study is a weariness of the flesh.” What brings weariness to the flesh, however, brings rest and joy to the spirit of man. The word study in II Timothy 2:15 means “to make effort, to be prompt or earnest, to be diligent, to endeavor, to labor.” Studying the Word of God does require work -- I won't lie to you -- but truly there is no work that yields greater blessings than obeying this command of God.
The solution for this excuse does not have to be complicated, not by any means. It is best to begin with something basic. For example, do a topic study (e.g., the parables of Christ) or a word study (e.g., grace). Is there a certain sin you struggle with? Do a study on how others overcame that sin in the Bible, and how the Lord gave them strength and enabled them to overcome. Do a simple study on something that particularly commands your interest, or a study on something you especially need spiritually.
Oftentimes the most straightforward methods yield the greatest results. When beginning to study the Bible, make it as uncomplicated yet still as rich as possible. As we grow in wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of God reveals to us richer, more glorious truths, “yea, the deep things of God” (II Cor. 2:10).
God does not give us commands we are unable to obey. There are things which may hinder us from doing what we should, but there is no obstacle so great that the Lord cannot help us to get around it. Obedience requires great effort but we never have to struggle alone. We receive strength as we study and grow in God’s Word, enabling us to attain greater heights.
There are many reasons why we must read the Bible. God does not suggest that we read and study His Word; He commands it. Studying the Word of God is wholly to our benefit. It is because the Lord longs for us to be blessed that He requires that we study His Word.
Obeying the Bible is our surest source of blessing and success in life. On the other hand, our lives will not prosper if we do not read the Bible and follow its commands. After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua who was to be the new leader of Israel. In Joshua 1:8 God commanded Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua was a successful leader only because he was faithful to obey the Word of God. If he had ignored God’s commandments, he surely would have failed in leading Israel into conquering the land promised to them. Psalm 1:1-3 says that the man who delights in the law of the LORD is blessed and “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The Lord desires to make our lives prosperous and rich with blessing, but we must fulfill the conditions He has determined. God has given His Word to us that we may find success in obeying it.
There is a continual struggle taking place within us, a battle between our spirit and our flesh. Our spirit must be “fed” and strengthened through the study of God’s Word or our flesh will naturally have the mastery over our lives. The Word of God is spirit and life to the inner man. Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” It is only through growing spiritually strong the Word of God that we can win in the battle against the flesh.
There are countless other reasons why we should study the Bible. The Father abides in us and shows His love to us through His Word (John 14:23). We must be in God’s Word if we are to expect answers to prayer. Christ promised in John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” We receive peace through the Word of God (John 16:33). Studying the Word is a sure way of receiving God’s approval (II Timothy 2:15). The Bible is our source of joy when we face trials and difficulties (Jer. 15:15-16). By studying God’s Word, we will be prepared to answer those who question our faith (I Pet. 3:15). God’s Word cleanses and sanctifies us of sin. Jesus said in John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Again, in John 17:17, He said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The command God gives Christians to study the His Word is not something we should view in a negative light. When we fail to see this command as one yielding great blessing to us spiritually, our flesh will bring up excuses as to why we should not obey the Lord. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth concerning Bible study, as revealed in the Word of God, will make us free from our excuses and failure.
We cannot grow spiritually unless we study the Bible. The time and diligence given to Bible study is in direct relation to our spiritual maturity. Studying the Bible gives a firm foundation to our faith and convictions.
It is critical that we be strong in the doctrine of God’s Word. We will be led astray if we do not mature spiritually in our knowledge of the Bible. Peter warned, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” (II Pet. 3:17) There are many who “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14), desiring to lead God’s people astray from the truth. We cannot determine between true and false doctrine unless we know what God says, as revealed to us in His Word.
For example, if you do not understand the doctrinal truth of the rapture, you can be easily misled. Speaking of the rapture of the church in Mark 13:32-33, Jesus said, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Jesus told us clearly and specifically that no man can guess the date or the time when Christ will come to catch His bride away. For that reason, we are to be always ready and anticipating that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. If you do not know this truth, you will believe anyone who claims they know specifically when Christ will come.
In the Bible we read many accounts where God spoke to people through visions and angel visitations, and we read how God gave men wisdom to interpret dreams. However, around the year A.D. 95 God completed the writing of the Scriptures with the revelation given to the apostle John. We no longer need visions or signs to know what God requires of us. God no longer speaks to man in such ways. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us clearly, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." God speaks to us today through His Son Who is the Word of God. (John 1:1) Since people then did not have the completed Bible as we do today, God used to speak directly to prophets through visions and angelic messengers, and those prophets would then in turn give God's message to the people. But now we have every single word and every single truth that God wants us to have, all bound together in one Book called the Bible. What a priceless treasure!
We simply do not need visions today. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, "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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The Word of God is all that we need for doctrine, telling us what is right; for reproof, telling us what is wrong; for correction, to make right what is wrong; and for instruction in righteousness, helping us to stay right in the truth. If we read the Bible and live the Bible, God tell us we will lack nothing that we need. The Bible is all that we need!
It goes without saying, but certainly needs mentioning, that the Holy Spirit never leads anyone contrary to the Word of God. Understanding this simple truth will protect you against whatever false teachers might say, claiming to have received a private revelation from God. II Peter 1:20 tells us, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." No one can claim a special revelation from God, such as a vision or a heavenly message. For example, the founder of Mormonism, a man named Joseph Smith, claimed to have been visited by an angel, and from that point he formed the whole deceptive, corrupting, blasphemous cult of Mormonism. The first thing you should think at any such a claim is that any statement contrary to the Word of God is a lie. There is only one Bible which gives each one of us the same infallible truths and commands. If anyone today is going to hear from God, it is going to be through the Word of God.
Now, because we know that God no longer speaks through dreams, visions, and angels, we should give no credibility to any such thing. People might come to you with their "experience," but if you have any spiritual discernment you will sense by just what spirit that experience was manifested. Since the very beginning of the world in the Garden of Eden, Satan has sought to destroy God's Word and deceive man, and has he ever been successful. Satan and his demons are able to work miracles, foretell events, reveal secrets, and give signs that appear good. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (II Cor. 11:14) Never, never, never believe anything that opposes God's Word. However remarkable or even innocent it may seem, never believe anyone who says they have had a vision or visitation. It is not of God! To reiterate, we no longer need visions; the Bible is all that we need. And if you are ever going to know what is true and what is not, you are just going to have to sit yourself down and get in the Book! =)
The Bible is both milk and meat and is able to provide for the growing needs of our spirit. Growth is impossible without Bible study. If a Christian does not study God’s Word, he remains a spiritual “baby” in Christ. A baby needs milk only until he has grown strong enough to need more sustaining food. The Bible is our meat and manna; it contains everything we need to become strong, healthy and whole in our walk with God.
We are personally responsible for our growth in the Lord. II Peter 3:18 tells us, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Growth in grace depends upon growth in knowledge. Bible study is absolutely essential to spiritual maturity. It makes us strong in our faith and keeps us from falling into false doctrine. It nourishes us spiritually and helps us to grow. It gives us joy and comfort. Its glorious truths deliver us from Satan's deceptive lies! The Bible is wonderful, powerful, forever settled -- and it is ours, the most priceless treasure we own! Our lives depend upon it. We cannot rightly live for God without studying the Word of God.The Bible has a solution for every problem that we face and is able to make our every excuse inadequate. There truly is no excuse for not studying the Bible; it is every Christian’s responsibility and delight. When we come to realize what a privilege it is to hold the Word of God in our hands, and what a necessity it is to the life of our spirit growing within us, we will allow nothing to prevent us from studying its precious, glorious, life-changing truths.
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