How and why should you read the Bible ?

Thursday April 15, 2021

How and why should you read the Bible ?

You study the scriptures because you think you have eternal life through them. They are the ones who bear witness about me. John 5:39

From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures that can make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 3:15

In the Lord’s time, religious leaders are able to recite long passages from the Old Testament by heart, yet Jesus severely criticizes them ! He reveals their spiritual poverty as they fail to recognize him as the Messiah of Israel of whom the Scriptures speak abundantly. He declares to them : His word does not dwell in you, since you do not believe on him whom he has sent (John 5:38). You study the scriptures because you think you have eternal life through them. They are the ones who bear witness about me, and you don't want to come to me for life ! (John 5: 39,40).

Why this lack of discernment among these specialists in sacred writings ? Quite simply because, for them, the study of these texts is above all an intellectual exercise. They neglect their spiritual and moral significance and discuss details.

This trap threatens a number of Christians today. They read the Bible as a self-imposed duty, to be good Christians. But godliness is not a series of duties !

Warning ! Reading the Bible regularly is very important, but only if you let it probe us and shape our thoughts ; on condition that you look for a person there : Jesus Christ, the Son of God. To learn to know him is to know God, for he is his image (Colossians 1:15), and he who has seen the Son has seen the Father (John 14: 9).

To know Jesus is to discover the feelings that animate him : love, kindness, joy, patience, but also his horror of sin, unbelief, self-righteousness, hypocrisy. It is also discerning how he sees and appreciates our behavior or that of the world.

The Word of God brings about a true transformation in the reader who loves the Lord Jesus, for it is impossible to place oneself in the atmosphere of the presence of Jesus without the inner being being transformed. Then, our daily behaviors, our actions, our words will have other motivations since they will be the fruit of the Spirit of Christ in us, whose first characteristics are love, joy, peace.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)