“It’s too hard!” “It’s boring.” “I don’t understand it.” “I don’t have time.”

The excuses are endless. I know – I’ve used plenty of them myself! But reading and studying the Bible on a regular basis isn’t really an option for us as Christians. The Bible itself calls us to read and apply God’s Word continuously. The Psalmist says: “Blessed is the man … [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalms 1:1-2). The Apostle Paul said to his young assistant: “You have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God my be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:15-17). You’ll notice it doesn’t say for a ‘few’ good works, or for ‘most’ good works, but for every good work. If we want to be equipped to do what God wants us to do, we must read and know Scripture.

As with all things God asks of us, reading the Bible helps us grow and mature, and ultimately, to attain richer and more fulfilled lives. That doesn’t mean reading the Bible is easy; but it does mean that God will richly reward our efforts. The prophet Isaiah says: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish … so it is with my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Is 55:10-11).

As we read the Bible, something supernatural occurs. Just as the Holy Spirit helped Jesus’ disciples remember and understand every word Jesus had spoken (Jn 14:26), so the Spirit will help us understand and retain God’s Word when we read the Bible. I don’t believe in “Bible Roulette” – the practice of opening the Bible at random and hoping we’ll find a word or passage relevant to our current situation. But if we read the Scriptures regularly, when trials and struggles come, the Holy Spirit will bring God’s Truth to mind to help us.

Something else occurs as we spend time studying God’s Word, especially when we combine our study with prayer: We begin to develop a relationship with God. No relationship can grow without communication. Prayerfully reading the Scriptures creates an opportunity for God to speak to us and we to Him.

So, put aside those excuses! Resolve today to read the Bible daily. In the coming weeks, we’ll look at some practical approaches to personal Bible study. In the meantime, try reading the entire chapter surrounding the passages in the sermon outline – one each day. You might be surprised how easy it is to get started!