Why Read The Bible (II)

Yesterday we looked at reasons not to read the Bible. So let's start looking at some of the great reason we should read. I don't know what images Bible reading suggests to you. Maybe you simply don't like reading and it's that part that puts you off. Maybe you're too busy and, despite the best intentions, Bible reading always gets pushed to one side. Maybe you simply don't see the point? If God loves me and i'm saved what more is there to know? Or maybe you just think Bible reading is boring. You've tried and there's nothing in there for you. There's nothing practical to help you, nothing that tells you what you should do in the situations that are worrying you.

Bible reading is one of the pleasures of the Christians day, for at least three reasons i can think of. Today we'll look at the first one. We read the Bible to meet with God.

1st Samuel 3:1 must be one of the saddest single verses in the Bible. The word of the Lord was rare in those days, there was no frequent vision. When Eli was priest no one sought the Lord. No one waited on the Lord, no one searched the Scriptures to hear His voice and be changed by Him. There was no vision. But that wasn't the case one night for Samuel at Shiloh. What happens according to 1st Samuel 3:21? The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel...by the Word of the Lord. Samuel saw the Lord with his ears. His Bible was opened, and he met with the Lord. If we want to meet with God today, or any day, we must have our Bibles opened. The Lord has chosen to communicate in this way, we can not ignore Him!

Who does John say that Jesus is? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Who is with God and also God? Jesus! Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is the final revelation of God the Father. He spoke before at many times and in many different ways, but in these last days He has spoken through His Son. Where do we see His Son? In the Bible. God is the life spreading God. Jesus is the giver of that life. To read the Bible is to get a life!

2nd Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Bible is breathed out by God. We can trust it because it comes with divine authority and power. And we know we can meet God in the pages of the Bible because they are His Words from His own breath. 2nd Peter 3:16 reminds us that this applies to the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. One of the marks of friendship is the desire to get to know each other, so you talk. Marriage is like one long conversation. If you are serious about knowing God, you'll be serious about reading the Bible.

In the end, our view of the Bible and our view of God are linked. If we struggle to trust one, it's probably because we struggle to trust the other. if we're bored by the Bible, ultimately we're being bored by God.

What's the first answer to the question, why read the Bible? We read the Bible to know God better, both in our affections, and our understanding, as we'll see in the next couple of days...