WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY?
(My Bible Reflection-FAZ)
If there is something that I am very passionate about to read, it is not my law books as a lawyer. It is my HOLY BIBLE! I love to read the word of God DAILY. I reflect and pray and write my Bible reflections to share them to others and to use it for my future sermons and preaching. Thus, I am always ready to preach and teach at anytime.
But what benefit do I get from reading the word of God daily? People say this word “WIIFM” which stands for “What’s In It For Me?” Sadly, many people do not read the Bible. Even some believers are lazy in reading their own Bibles. I remember a story about a pastor who had a dinner at the home of a couple in his church. After he left, the wife said to her husband, "I think he stole our spoon!" This bothered her for a whole year. A year later the couple had the pastor for a dinner again. Unable to resist, the wife asked, "Did you steal our spoon last year?" The pastor replied, "NO, I PUT IT INSIDE YOUR BIBLE."
In this reflection, I will share with you the REASONS, IMPORTANCE and the BENEFITS I derive in spending daily time in reading God’s Word:
One: I READ MY BIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME MORAL PROTECTION.
Reading the Bible provides moral protection. According to Psalm 119:9–11 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”
Reading the Bible helps us distinguish and discern between right and wrong, especially in this relativistic age. It changes the way we think and reminds us to follow God’s standards, not our own. It also enables us to resist and flee from temptations. It is easy for us to fall into sin but if we know and are reminded by the word of God we read and meditate, it gives us strength and reason not to do it.
Two: I READ MY BIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME GENUINE FREEDOM.
Reading the Bible gives us genuine freedom. Psalm 119:45 says, “I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.” This verse literally says, “I will walk in a wide-open place.” How different this is than what we usually think! Many people think that the Bible restricts and limits us. Instead, this verse says that the Scriptures guide us to what is best for us, and we have liberty to go there.
Real freedom isn’t doing anything I want but rather doing what is best. Yes, the Bible has so many DO’S and DON’TS, but they are written there for our own good. They are God’s will and they are the BEST. We can never have a blessed, joyful and successful life on earth if we do not live at the center of God’s will. To know God’s will for you, start reading His words.
Third: I READ MY BIBLE BECAUSE IT REVIVES MY SOUL.
Psalm 119:93 declares, “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.” The Word of God has the power to invigorate and sustain us. Without it, we shrivel up. The Bible is our spiritual nutrition. A healthy serving of the Scriptures on a daily basis transforms us so we can walk in newness of life.
Fourth: I READ MY BIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SUPERNATURAL WISDOM:
Reading the Bible bestows upon us supernatural wisdom. This is what Psalm 119:98–100 says:
“Your commandments make me WISER than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have MORE INSIGHT than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I UNDERSTAND MORE THAN THE AGED, because I have observed Your precepts.”
The first part of this verse could be translated,
“Your commandments give me SKILL FOR LIVING.”
The message of the Bible is not about a bunch of “begats” and “thou shalt nots.” God’s Word is about practical, everyday, successful living based on God’s perspective, not ours. It’s amazing how skillful we can become in marriage, parenting, business, friendship, work, you name it, when we live according to God’s wisdom.
Fifth: I READ MY BIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME DIVINE DIRECTION.
Yes, reading the Bible provides divine direction to us. We make decisions everyday and the Bible is a perfect guide so that we will not commit a mistake that we will regret later on. A great reminder from Psalm 119:105 is, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
I’m convinced that much of the will of God is found in the Word of God. As we wonder what our steps should be in a dark world, the Word of God guides us. We don’t need this spiritual flashlight only on special occasions; we need the light of God’s Word for every step we take.
Sixth: I READ THE BIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
We live in an age when people actually believe that truth is relative and that there is no objective reality. Some believe that truth can be individualized, so that your truth is different from my truth. But the Bible disagrees: “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Ps. 119:160). In this relativistic, equivocating world, we can rely on the absolute truth of God’s Word. Knowing God’s word will help us discern the lies propagated by Satan in the internet and by the false and prosperity preachers nowadays.
Seventh: I READ THE BIBLE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME EMOTIONAL SECURITY.
In Psalm 119:165 says, “Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.”
Jesus taught that in this world we’ll have tribulation (John 16:33), and doubtless we have all experienced troubles. Nevertheless, I’ve also found that the way to find peace in any crisis, whether it’s health problems, family difficulties, financial stress, challenges at work, or anything, comes from reading and gaining comfort from the words of Scripture.
CONCLUSION:
How about you my brethren, do you regularly read your Bible? Check out, your spoon might be missing in your house only to find out that your Pastor put it a year ago inside your Bible. Why do you read your Bible? Can you identify any or all of my reasons why we should read the Bible?
If you are lazy or busy to read your Bible, I challenge you, grab your Bible in your bookshelf. Spend just about 10 to 15 minutes a DAY reading God’s Word. If you do that, you will grow as believers. If you are new to Bible reading, there are many good reading plans available. Find one and use it.
Remember what the evangelist D. L. Moody is widely attributed to have said: “The Bible was not given for our information but our transformation.” We can begin to experience God’s transformation of our lives as we read the Scriptures every day.
God bless us all.
CTTO: Florante A. Zagada's Law Reflections
CLC Philippines Digital