Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. – Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
This article is culled from the book Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible. I trust you will be as blessed as I was when I first read it.
INTRODUCTION
At first glance it would seem totally unnecessary to discuss reasons for studying God’s Word. One might assume that, upon conversion, the most natural thing for a new believer to do would be to begin a lifelong study of that Book which originally brought him to Christ. But personal observation, as well as church history, proves the facts to be quite the opposite.
The truth is most Christians know very little about the Bible! Here then are some sound reasons for studying the Scriptures.
I. Because of its Author.
Often God is thought of as a Creator, a Redeemer, a Shepherd, a Judge, etc. This is correct thinking, of course, for he does indeed function in all these roles. But there is one great accomplishment of God which is almost always left off the divine attribute lists compiled by men.
This wonderful but forgotten role is that of Author! God has written a book, and that profound and priceless book is the Bible. As testified to by any human author, the nicest thing one can say to an author is, “Oh, yes, I’ve read your book.”
It is tragic but true fact that many of the Christians who will someday (along with all believers) stand before the judgement seat of Christ will be sadly forced to admit that, while they were saved by heeding the salvation message in God’s Book, they nevertheless failed to take time to read it.
Thus, if for no other reason, the Bible should be carefully read to allow the believer to proclaim to Christ on that day: “Dear Jesus, there were many things I did not do on earth that I should have done, as well as other things I did do that I should not have, but one thing I did – I read your book!”
II. Because of the often –repeated command to read it.
“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” (Josh. 1:8).
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
“But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4). Especially to be noted is this last verse. Jesus said every word.
III. Because the Bible is God’s chosen way to accomplish his divine will.
A.Sinners are saved through the message of the Bible.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tiding of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:13-17).
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words” (Acts 2:14).
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Phillip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:4-8).
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23).
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth-that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creations” (James. 1:18).
B. Saints are sanctified through the message of the Bible.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John. 17:17).
“As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thess. 4:3).
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps 119:9-11).
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:5,6).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
“And now, brethren, I commend you to be God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”. (Acts 20:32).
IV. Because our enemy the devil has read it.
During the account in Matthew 4, Christ is tempted three times by the devil. On each occasion the Savior answered Satan with the phrase, “It is written,” and then proceeded to quote from the Word of God as found in the book of Deuteronomy.
But what is almost always overlooked is the fact that the phrase “it is written” is repeated four times in Matthew 4, and the fourth time it is the devil using it to quote Scripture to Christ! Note the background at this point.
“Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy City, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear up thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Mt. 4:5,6).
Here Satan quotes from Psalm 91:11,12. It is taken completely out of context, to be sure, but how did Satan know about it in the first place? The answer is painfully obvious.
One day when had nothing better to do, he must have sat down and studied Psalm 91.
Many Christians today have probably never even read this Psalm, but the devil apparently has it memorized! Thus, we need to read God’s Word lest Satan get an advantage upon us.
To be continued!
Remain Blessed!
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