THE BEST SELLING BOOK: THE BIBLE.
You know those people who have a thriving faith and seem to actually know God personally, have deep peace, fulfillment and a contagious amount of joy? If you’re like me, when I first began growing in my faith it was easy to assume that was possible for them, but unattainable to have for myself. It felt impossible to prioritize God in the midst of a busy schedule, and I assumed that building a foundation on my faith would take hours of my day!
Everyone has the same amount of time in the day, 1440 minutes to be exact. And the secret to a thriving faith is investing only a few of those minutes getting to know God! Building a foundation on our faith doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We spend 10-15 minutes doing a lot of mindless things throughout our days: driving, walking to class (or around the neighborhood in quarantine), random face-times, Tok Tok, snap chats, Instagram scrolling… the list goes on.
What could it look like if we invested 10-15 minutes doing something that actually gives us lasting life, purpose, fulfillment, peace and joy?
A guy named David in the Bible gives a handful of reasons why it is worth it to invest time connecting with God by reading His very words in the Bible. And he’s a trustworthy source! In Acts 13:22, God describes David as a ‘man after his own heart’. David knew God well and sought to know and follow Him wholeheartedly. In the book of Psalms, David writes a lot about the Bible: what it is, it’s purpose, and the benefits of spending time reading it. He gives many reasons why it’s worth it to invest time reading the Bible!
Why is it worth it to read the Bible? The Bible…
Helps us to Know God (Psalm 119:137)
David says that God is righteous and that His words are right. David is saying that because the Bible is right, it gives us a clear picture and understanding of the righteous and perfect character of God!
Gives us Direction & Guidance (Psalm 119:105; 19:8)
In Psalm 119:105, David says the Bible is a “lamp for my feet, a light to my path”. Not only does the Bible help us know who God is, but it helps us know where God is wanting us to go! The Bible lights our path and can give us direction, even in the darkest circumstances.
Is Perfect & Fully Trustworthy (Psalm 19:7; 119:138)
David calls the Bible ‘fully trustworthy’, meaning firm or steady. How exciting is it that in the midst of fake news and shifting circumstances, the Bible is the only perfect and trustworthy source of guidance giving us stability!
Gives Hope (Psalm 119:114)
Have you ever hoped for something that didn’t happen or had unmet expectations? David says “you are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word”. Because the Bible is a refuge, we can put our hope in it, confident that what God says in the Bible is true. If we hope in what God promises, He always comes through!
Strengthens Us (Psalm 119:28)
Speaking of unmet expectations, have you experienced grief? Walked through hardships, felt weak and or not known where to turn? David says that even in the midst of feeling grief, or weeping with sorrow, the Bible is what strengthens Him. God wants to give us strength when we are weak!
Counsels Us (Psalm 119:24)
David also says the Bible is much more than just our strength; it’s even our counselor. Ever need advice, someone to talk to, or just a new perspective? God’s very word is the best counselor, because He sees the full picture and can guide us where He sees is best.
Gives Peace (119:165)
Peace means completeness, soundness, or tranquility. Is it possible to have actual peace? David says “those who love your (God’s) instructions have great peace…” God gave us the Bible to instruct us because He loves us. When we go against what He instructs, we feel anxious. Those who choose to do what God says in the Bible above whatever they want are promised peace!
Brings Freedom (Psalm 119:45)
From the day we are born, we long for our 18th birthday to experience the long-anticipated ‘freedom’ of being an adult. But what is true freedom? David says “I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your (God’s) commandments”. Similar to having peace that lasts, true freedom isn’t found by doing whatever we want. It comes when we live according to what God says in the Bible!
Is Unchanging & Eternal (Psalm 119:89)
Even in times of uncertainty, David says that God’s word stands firm. His Word doesn’t just stand firm here on earth, but in the heavens and His Words aren’t empty words, but are from heaven and last for eternity. That means no matter what may happen, we can trust the Bible to last beyond our circumstances. And not only that, because it’s unchanging and eternal, the Bible is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago!
Give us Life & Joy (Psalm 119:93; 19:8)
David says “I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life”. He also says in Psalm 19:8 that the Bible brings joy to the heart. Where do you look for life and joy? Do those sources give an endless supply of life and joy? The Bible can give us life because God is the source of eternal life, and the Bible are His very words. If we look to God for life and joy above all things, we will experience life to the full.
David makes a pretty good case. The Bible is worth investing 10-15 minutes reading because it allows us to actually know who God is personally and His character, gives us direction and guidance, it’s completely trustworthy, bring us lasting hope, gives us strength and counsel through hard times, lasts forever, brings us freedom, peace, life and lasting joy.
What would your life look like if you invested 10-15 minutes a day reading this book? Or, if you've been reading the Bible for a while, what would it look like to spend even more time reading and studying it to know God more? You’re as close to God as you choose to be. Spend each day taking steps to get closer to God, because He promises in His Word that if we ‘come close to God, God will come close to you’ (James 4:8).
How do we actually read the Bible?
The Bible is worth investing time reading, but how do we actually read it? Reading the Bible can seem intimidating. If you’re like me, I thought the best way to read the Bible was the ‘open and point method’. I would open my Bible, close my eyes, and point to a verse. If it was relevant to my life, I would be surprised how God knew exactly what I needed to hear. But, if it wasn’t relevant, I would assume God wasn’t paying attention to my method and would try again another time. You can imagine why I didn’t get very far! A friend of mine showed me a way to read the Bible that was understandable, and it’s changed my life.
The Bible is actually so easy and simple to read! This method isn’t the only way to read the Bible by any means, but is a method that’s been helpful for me to begin scratching the surface at what God has to say in the Bible. Reading the Bible is as simple as memorizing the word SOAP:
Scripture: Choose a verse or passage of the Bible to read
Observation: Ask yourself, ‘what stands out in this verse?’ Try to make 5 observations & write them down!
Application: Ask, ‘what will I do differently in my life because of the verse/passage I read?’
Pray: pray & ask God to remind you during the day about what you just learned
I’ve never regretted the time I’ve spent investing in reading the Bible. It’s helped me to actually learn how to have a relationship with God, how to follow God’s will for my life, and live the way God wants me to. Similar to any friendship or relationship, the more time spent with a person, the more you know, enjoy and love spending time with them. The same is true of God because He is personal and desires for us to know Him. In fact, God promises that if we seek Him, we are guaranteed to get to know Him!
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13
God promises that if we invest time seeking Him by reading the Bible, praying and trying to get to know Him by saying yes to opportunities to grow in our faith, we will find Him. That’s a promise worth looking into!
What would your life look like if you invested 10-15 minutes a day reading the Bible? Start Reading Today! check out the link below for simple daily Bible reading plans.
