BECOME A STUDENT OF THE BIBLE

I have been a zealous Bible student for most of my life. Bible study comes easy for me, it is the highlight of my day. I realize studying the Bible doesn’t come as easy for everyone, but I would like to share some thoughts on why study the Bible and some of the benefits one quickly realizes when taking time out to listen to our God through His words in the Bible.

Most of the chapters of the Bible are 20-40 verses so it takes only about 2-4 minutes to read one of those chapters. Of course it is best to not just quickly read through a chapter, but it is better than nothing! Ideally, we also spend some time meditating on the words, consider how they apply to us, and spend some time praying about what we have learned.

The book of Psalms has much to say about the words of God, calling them precepts, commandments, laws, words, etc. One of my favorite chapters of the Bible is Psalm 119 which has 176 verses, and nearly all of them talk about the words of God. Many of the verse reveal the benefits of the word of God in our lives. For instance:

I have hid Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11).

Are you having trouble overcoming temptation or sin? Feed on the purifying words of God, and become stronger against temptation.

The very first verse I remember memorizing at about age nine is similar:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word (Psalm 119:9).

Trying to fumble your way through life and wanting some direction from God, some understanding of His will? Here is some help:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

The words of God shine on us and are a lamp to show where we are in life and how we are doing. And they also are a light showing us future ways to go.

Need faith? There is help in the words of God:

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

Notice the word, hearing? Try not just reading the Bible, but listening to it via an audio Bible. There is something good that happens when you audibly hear the words of God.

The apostle Paul was a great fan of believers becoming students of the Bible, enumerating lots of benefits in 2 Timothy 3:15-17:

• They are able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ
• They teach you
• They rebuke and correct you
• They train you in righteousness
• They equip you for every good work

The devil has always been a busy devil. As he sees time pass and the end nearing, he really is stepping it up. One of his ways to deceive believers and unbelievers alike is to mess with doctrine. He whispers to us to tolerate things God hates and condemns. He makes millions believe they, or even nearly all people go to heaven when they die. He confuses the way to forgiveness by making up other believable methods of salvation. And he seduces us to become so busy that we seldom study our Bible. Being a student of the Bible protects us from his lies and false doctrine. Why waste an entire life believing wrong things? Just become a student of the Bible and learn the right things.

Again, it takes little time to start reading the Bible every day and meditating on it. Think about it: Most of us are up and awake for around 16 hours every day. Shouldn’t we spend some of that time with the One who made us, has plans for us, sustains us and saves us? Is there anything more important than connecting with God every day?

The words of God can be depending on now and forever. What He has said won’t sometime become old news and untrue. This is important to us believers. If His words are eternal and He is eternal, He can and will back them up now and a million years from now.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Why not spend some time reading and meditating on those eternal words today?