With over 66 books, 40 different authors, in 3 different continents, over a span of 1500 years the Bible stands firm generation after generation. With so many different characteristics it serves as a testimony to the one unifiying message of God’s love and redemption for mankind. Having been studied by thousands of people over centuries, there is still no amount of wisdom or knowledge that could match the contents of this one book.
When I was younger my mum MADE me read my bible in the mornings. It’s not that I didn’t like reading it, it was just that to me it was like a chore I just had to do, to get my mum off my back. But today, it is the source of my strength and comfort in my everyday life and I am grateful for that early exposure to it. I can still remember my mum making me memorise scripture on Saturday’s, which to this day are still stuck in my mind (If you are Indian, you can relate to this!).
Many times, before I gave my life to Christ, I asked myself why it was even important to read the bible? It was just words on a page written so many years ago. The stories were kinda nice but I’d heard them all before over and over again in Sunday School. After all, I was the preacher’s kid.
But now, whenever I find spare time my only thought is to listen to a podcast or do some bible journalling or dig deep into a passage. Don’t get me wrong though. There are times when I feel like that last thing I want to do is open up my bible. Have you ever found that when you force yourself to open up your bible on those days, you find yourself in God’s presence the most.
In Matthew Chapter 4, we see the account of Jesus being tempted by the Devil for 40 days. Once Jesus replaced Satan’s lies with God’s truth, it was then that His minsitry truly started. I’m sure many of you reading this will have seen so many different angles on this story and know it front to back, but humour me for a moment. This passage, for me, shows me really why reading the scripture is so important and such a meaningful part of my life.
It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.
MATTHEW 4:4
The phrase ‘it is written” is recorded 3 different times in the space of 11 verses. Now, I don’t know about you but I’ve always been taught that when something is repeated in the bible, we best be paying attention to it! Especially, when it comes out of the mouth of Jesus!
Our world fills our hearts with doubts and fears. Lies that cloud our thoughts and judgment. When people twist Scripture for their own purposes or to throw us into confusion. What do you and I do then? If we don’t know what the word of God says, TRULY says, then how do we know what is the truth and who and what we can trust? What about ourselves? How can we judge ourselves and question whether our intents and our actions are right?
Scripture is important. One of the most important things you can invest your time in. It is essential to defend ourselves and to fight the enemy with. It dispels the fog of darkness under your feet, and lights the path underneath you like a lamp. If you do not know what the truth is, evil will twist and deviate what the Word of God really says.
If doubts are something that you struggle with a lot then check out my blog about Replacing Lies or if you struggle with reading the bible then check out my blog on How to Read the Bible More.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
