Why is reading the Word of God so important?

Why is reading the Word of God so important?

First, reading the Bible is so important because it is the Word of God. It is the direct communication from God to us, it is complete and accurate. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God…” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God…”. God speaks to us directly through the Bible and shows His will for our lives. The Bible reveals His wisdom, character, goodness, righteousness, and His love. The Word of God provides forever unchanging instructions for us to live a faithful life until the day Christ returns.

Second, reading the Bible is to know about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and his perfect obedience to the Father. In Luke 24, Jesus explained to his disciples that the Scripture all pointed to Him. Jesus left all glory in heaven and came down to Earth to die for our salvation.  Philippians 2:8 says, “Being found in appearance as a man, humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” In His perfect obedience, Jesus was mocked, beaten, spat on, and ultimately was nailed on the cross, Jesus still revered to God’s will. There is nowhere else except the Bible that we can learn about Christ, his character, his love, and his perfect obedience. Jesus lived a perfect life with perfect submission to God the Father. As believer, we should and must imitate Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Father. The Bible reminds and encourages us to live more like Christ every day.

Third, reading the Word of God is for our spiritual growth. Just as essential as water and food to our physical growth, God’s Word is essential to our spiritual growth. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Our physical bodies will wither away if we don’t have proper nourishment. It is the same with our spiritual growth without God’s Word. Reading and meditating His Word nourish our spiritual growth. The righteous and blessed man does not stand with the way of the world, but in God’s Word. Psalm 1:2 says, “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night”. As a result, he is like a tree firmly planted and is able to withstand difficult times while the wicked who lives according to this world’s standards is blown away like the chaff. Also those who keep His Word are planted by streams of water that “yields its fruit in season” (Psalm 1:3). Our lives will be spiritually fruitful because we trust in the Lord and keep his commandment. The Word of God is to be praised and we need to mediate day and night for our spiritual growth as Psalm 19:7-8 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving our soul… making wise the simple, giving joy to our heart, and light to the eyes. For those who keep and meditate His Word will have great reward (v. 11). We are too like newborn babies who “long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,  if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” (1 Peter 2: 2-3)  Like newborn babies who long for the pure goodness of milk for their growth, we too need to long for God’s Word for our spiritual growth, to taste the goodness of God in his Word to grow up into salvation.

Post by Thao Mai