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We should read and study the Bible because it is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God's very words to us. There are so many questions ...
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The Bible is God's love letter to us all. He explains how and why He chose the Jews as His people and how the Bible, His Word, came to us gentiles (every one who is not Jewish). He tells us how to live a life of righteousness and in His good favor and how not to live to please Him. He offers eternal life with Him in paradise if we believe. The only way to really understand is to read the Bible and read it every day. Its a true history, even archeology and science has nature itself has proven this. The more you read the more you will understand. One reading will give insight to something and the next time you read the same passage you may understand it better or even pick up something else in it. To grow in your faith in Him it is important to read His word everyday. It will keep you faithful, remind you of His love, to reveal His love for you and for everyone in ways you may not have read or heard before.
We must read and study the bible so that we don't repeat history by missing the coming of Jesus, and putting out the light of the world. The last time the bible was neglected and not studied, We were given what we know as the Dark Ages. Study the word for in it you will find the light to guide you through this dark world.
As a Christian my very best friend is Jesus. I love to talk to him all the time. The Bible is the only way He can talk to me personally. Through His living Word he can advise, guide, comfort, strengthen and protect us in this fallen world. Our minsters are very important to us and our church families and we thank God for them, but God must talk to us personally each day and the only way he can do that is through his Word. Living a Christian life is a moment by moment process not by just driving a shinny car to a church service on Sunday morning to be counted by your neighbors. The goal of a Christian is to be more Christlike and to do that He has to be able to guide you daily by listening to His voice through his Bible, His living Word.
To read and study the Bible in my opinion is to explore the greatest mysteries of your entire life, all from the safety of your comfortable chair. Consider that all we perceive as real is written within the pages of the Bible this one book and no other book contains all the answers for mankind. You'll discover that we're participants in a cosmic war. In possession of an integrated series of messages from an extraterrestrial source that describes the origin, career, and destiny of the super beings behind the scenes of our physical universe and the political events we see. Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Statement of knowing the End from the BEGINNING is a clue this message originated from outside of what we call time, as stated in Isaiah 57:15 The creator of the message is someone who is outside the physical constraints of time itself. And He uses that very attribute to authenticate His Word. Logically we should be able to see historical facts that were written long before they came to past, in the real physical world's historical record. All of creation points to the creator explore, in my simple humble manner you now know the message was sent, what you do with it is your choice. My people perish from the lack of knowledge, because they have rejected knowledge. In the Lords freedom warrior on.
We must read and study the bible so that we get to know God, and furthermore understand who He is! God's word teaches us how to fellowship with Him, and when you fellowship with someone, you can understand them better.
We should Study the bible to get a better understanding of the mindset, thought process and pattern of God. As to how he thinks and why he moves a certain way. Why he chose to do things one way and not another. Why he decides to use one person and not another. What actually makes him tick and how can we get close enough to him so that when we need him he can move quickly for us he will so to speak? Studying the word of God to me means that you want to get a real close and personal view of his character and that only comes with laboring or studying his word. Reading his word to me is like trying to fulfill a quota as to say I read the whole bible in a year, however somehow your understanding is still lacking in most areas. But there is nothing wrong with reading the bible in a year just to say that you read the entire bible. Allow me to add that the Lord is not interested in quantity as much as he is concern about the quality or what has been amassed in our hearts after reading the Word of God.
ALL above answers are so good! Here are God's reasons: John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 2 Tim 2: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. James 4:8: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 1 Peter 1:8: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: John 18:37: Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. And my reasons: To really walk with Jesus you need to know Him. He is God's word on earth. As the above scripture indicates, as you study the word of God, it comes to live IN your heart, JESUS begins to live IN you! The closer we walk with God, the clearer we see His guidance. As with people, you can not know someone by just looking at them... but talk to them, spend time with them, get to know the things they think/are/do/believe and you get to understand them and have a relationship with them. It is the same with God. He came in living form, not only to sacrifice Himself for us to save us from ourselves with God's loving grace and mercy, but to personally share God with us! His words are God's words, and to study them is an immense privilege in my humble opinion. I am so thirsty to know the heart of God MORE. I can't wait to accomplish my resolution for this year to read the Bible in one year, and then to begin again next year! I can only imagine how much stronger my faith will be then! As we begin to know scripture too, not only does it live in our hearts, but it is the only best defense against satan; even Jesus used scripture to shut the evil one down! Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Without studying the word of God, how can you ever be His best ambassador? Blessings, in HIM, Lynn
I would like to add an answer quoting a writing by Jonathan la Fleur in Hard Truth `All believers have heard that they should read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible. Very few, however, are given a good reason as to why they should spend their time in such disciplines. Are the reasons in favor of Bible intake so obvious that they escape the consciousness of those who advocate the discipline? Well, that won’t do. So why do Christians need the Bible? Why is it important for Christians to make Scripture intake part of their regular devotional lives? Consider the reasons given by Paul in Romans 15:4, 13. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may about in hope? Here are three biblical reasons why I believe Bible intake is necessary for Christians: 1. Instruction: we need to be taught by God the Father himself his truth that we are to believe and his commands that we are to obey. The Holy Spirit works through the revealed word of God to teach God’s people his truth. God has not chosen to leave us in the dark about his will but has revealed it to us in his word (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). 2. Endurance: we need daily intake of the word of God because through the word we hear God’s voice. This is the means by which we are able to endure in faith. God keeps us in faith by his sovereign power (1 Pet. 1:5). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). The faith that enables us to endure is created and preserved by the word of God. 3. Encouragement: we need God’s word to daily remind us of the hope we have in Christ, that by his death and resurrection we will be raised to new life with him in glory. Our trials will not be worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us in the last day (Rom. 8:18-25). This hope comes to us and nourishes our souls daily through the word of God. As we saturate our lives with God’s word, we will receive instruction from God, endurance the power of the Spirit of God, and encouragement through the death and resurrection of the Son of God that this life is passing and we will be with Christ forever. God will fill his people with joy, hope, and peace through his Spirit as we hear his voice and believe his truth.’
Read the Bible for the pre-mentioned reasons. In addition, from my personal experience, I truly believe It is "the knowledge above college". God knows everything (omniscient); and He is everywhere (omnipresent). We were taught in school that until Columbus discovered it wasn't, the world was flat - not true! It is written in Isaiah 40:22: "He sits enthroned above the CIRCLE of the EARTH, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." This was before Columbus! Job 26:7 speaks of further scientific matters (the suspension of the earth in space): "He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing." Amazing! Also when reading the Bible for yourself, you won't be caught up in man's misinterpretations, which can be way out there! When you're listening to a preacher, teacher, writer or any so called theogical authority and not reading the Bible for yourself, they can say anything for you to believe (I’m thinking of Jim Jones and the people in Guyana that drank the poison Kool-aid. He started preaching in a local church before he convinced over 700 people to sell everything and move to the jungle). Slavery, prejudice, abuse against women, and many other wrong things have been promoted using Bible scriptures. When you read and study the Word of God with understanding (which takes more than one read through), you will begin to understand, gain wisdom and knowledge because it is God, not man, who moved the writers to write His Word (2Peter 1:21 says: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."). If someone who loves you very much wrote you a letter (no matter how long), wouldn't you want to know what it said?
We should read and study the Bible so that we can understand it more. That way we can grow up in the Christian faith, and we we feed the spirit more and not the flesh.
2 Tim. 3:14-17: All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Heb. 4:12: For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Ps. 119:105: Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Joshua 1:8: Do not this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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. Deut. 8:3: …man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Ps. 119:9-11: How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from all Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Col. 3:16: Let the Word of God dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom… James 1:22-25: But the person who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.
In my opinion it is important to read the Bible daily. I am a Catholic and our Bible has some books that aren't in King James and vice-versa. I own both because I want to know everything about God and what he commands of me and how to live my life as a Christian. In the Gospels I find that Catholics see Mary differently than in the King James version and that's okay. The main thing we need to do is follow the commandments, avoid sin, and pray for forgiveness when we do sin. Satan is powerful and puts things such as swear words into your mind and you say them before you even think about it. I have daily reading for the Catholic Mass and even if I don't attend except on Sunday, I read all the readings, mark them in my Bible as read, and if I have already read them I read another part that I haven't read before in the same book. I also study some of the books that aren't in either Bible, such as The Book of Enoch.
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