We’ve all been told that we should read the Bible, but why should we? What makes the Bible so valuable? Does it really do anything for us? This blog will go over why you should read the Bible and how it can benefit you as a person.
The Bible is God’s Self-Revelation Recorded by Humans.
First and foremost, we are to read the Bible to get to know God. It was written by many different authors in many different situations, but all trying to explain their world in light of what they understood God to be doing. That makes it a theological work, not scientific or even historical as we would understand history today. There is certainly reference to historical events, but relating history is not its purpose. Facilitating a relationship with God is its purpose. The Bible is a mix of narrative, poetry, and parables, all of it set in a time and a place. The Bible was written by authors (probably mostly men, but we don’t know for sure) who were inspired by God and wrote from their own experience, but certainly not all-knowing. Their viewpoints and experience colored what they said and how they said it. We believe the Bible is our starting point for knowing God and yet, we understand that some parts of the Bible are more authoritative than others. Think of it as a conversation. There are many viewpoints expressed in this holy conversation, all of them included, even though some of them were the minority viewpoint and not all of them equally applicable to our lives.
Reading the Bible Gives You Wisdom
The Bible isn’t just a nice read. It’s a book packed with all kinds of advice for how to approach living a good life. Use it to think about how to be your best self; how to live in a family, use our money, be in relationships, it’s all there. You’d be surprised by how much you can learn from it. When one becomes wiser, one becomes better able to make sound decisions. With good decisions come many good things in life.
Reading the Bible Gives You Peace
In today’s world, living a fast-paced life is now a norm. Trying to keep up with the incredibly fast-moving life can be overwhelming. However, reading the Bible can help us sort through all the craziness in life to see what values are truly important. It reminds us to step back, breathe and remember what really matters in our lives. The Bible’s wise words can help you put first things first, diminish your confusion, thus bringing you peace.
The Bible Gives Direction
Many times, life can feel like a road without a map. Young or old, it’s easy to feel lost on the journey. However, when you read the Bible, you can see that God has a purpose for everyone at every stage of life. God’s purpose is always love. God’s word can give direction and remind you of your purpose—to love your neighbor as yourself!
It Helps You Overcome Sin & Temptation
Everyone faces temptation in their everyday life—sometimes even several times a day! It’s simply part of the world we live in. But when we read the Bible, we get advice on how to approach these situations and overcome the temptations we face in our daily life so we don’t slip into sin (understood as being self-centered rather than being God-centered). The Bible helps you, along with prayer and meditation, decide what to do, rather than guessing and hoping or rushing headlong into action without giving much thought to the consequences of your actions.
It Fortifies Your Relationship with God
Your relationship with God is one of the most significant aspects that shape your life. By reading the Bible, we get insights into God. We can pray using scripture verses. We can speak with God about our readings. It ultimately helps us get closer to God. We grow in an understanding of God as we read and get a better grasp of God’s word.
It Can Change Your Life
Reading the Bible will change your life. Many people go to the self-help section of a bookstore to find an instant solution to their problems. However, very few problems respond to instant solutions. The Bible gives insight for living the whole of life, explains how distance from God impacts who you are, helps you grow, and explains your behaviors. Reading the Bible can really change your life!
There is so much you can learn when you read the Bible. It’s easy to feel lost on your journey, but when you read the Bible, it gives you a feeling of reassurance that you cannot find anywhere else. We hope this blog helped you see why reading the Bible is so helpful. If you’re looking for a place to gather and listen to the word of God, Gethsemane Lutheran Church is the place to be! Give us a call at (858) 277-6572 or click here to learn more!
