I'm privileged to be part of a small group of guys who meet regularly and are committed to becoming leaders of themselves, their families, in their church and on the job. We're using readings from the One Year Bible as our topic of discussion, and I'll be posting a summary of what we learn together.
As a starter, I thought it might be helpful to look at a few key reasons a daily dose of God's Word is so important. Here goes...
1. It shows us who we really are. (Hebrews 4:12)
Simply put, the Bible is unlike any other book. We don't just read it; it reads us! It's alive. It does more than inspire or motivate me, it convicts me. It reveals my motives and attitudes. Without it, I can't even begin to understand myself or what my next move should be.
2. It’s God-breathed and useful. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
You know what people have a problem with? The Bible's own interpretation of itself! No one debates the pure historicity of the Scriptures. In fact, nothing even comes close to it in terms of internal and external textual criticism. The problem people have is accepting the Bible's own interpretation of itself---that it is the inspired Word of God, that it is useful to teach, rebuke, correct, train and equip us. Admittedly, this is decision of faith, but until you accept the Bible's authority as God's Word the "usefulness" of it will be severely limited in your life.
3. It gives us direction. (Psalms 119:105)
Whenever you're wondering what you should do next, God promises to illuminate it through His Word. He doesn't want us wandering around in the dark or guessing about His will. He clearly paints a picture of His character and purpose, His desire for our life through the Bible.
4. It’s our weapon. (Ephesians 6:10-15)
Whether we realize it or not, we are in a battle. We should never forget the reality of a spiritual battle in our lives over our thoughts, our marriages, our families, our destiny. But how do you fight a spiritual battle? With the Word of God. In fact, the Bible is the only offensive weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6. It is the Sword of the Spirit. It's how we combat the lies of the enemy that would plant doubt and discouragement. Now, if I'm in a battle I can tell you right now that I want a weapon. Yes, a helmet is good, a belt is nice, a shield will be very important...but give me something to fight with! We would never dream of going into a physical battle without a weapon so why would we attempt to fight a spiritual battle without one?
5. It is our life. (Matthew 4:1-4; Deuteronomy 8:1-5)
When tempted, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8 that instructed God's people as they were about to enter the Promised Land. It recalls God's miraculous provision as they journeyed through the wilderness. One of the reasons God provided manna was to teach His people that He can provide for them any way He wants to, even if it means creating a brand new category on the food pyramid! The point? We don't truly live by our own provision, striving, or effort, but by every word from God's mouth. Our participation in eternal life is our daily decision to rely on and trust in Him.
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