First of all, reading God’s Word is a matter of obedience to God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” God commands us to not only read His word but to also be well-versed in it. To not do so would be a definite sin against God already before one takes anything else into consideration.
Secondly, the scriptures were inspired directly from God Himself such that when scripture speaks, God speaks. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that “all Scripture is inspired by God [literally “God-breathed”].” In John 10:26-27, Jesus Told the Jews that they did not believe in Him because they were not His sheep. And to them He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” God’s divine revelation to man has been completed until Jesus’ second coming, and the only way to hear His voice today is through His written word. If the love of God truly has been poured out into the hearts of all Christians everywhere, should not every Christian be closely acquainted with God’s own Word with which He expressed Himself and His desires for us? Scripture says yes this will be the case for the believer.
Thirdly, God’s word is the very means by which He equips us and sanctifies us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that all Scripture is also “profitable for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Every single born-again Christian is now a slave of righteousness rather than a slave to sin so by definition every Christian should be very concerned with reading God’s word on a regular basis. To not do so would mean to quench the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power over one’s life and to spiritually starve oneself of whatever spiritual help one would otherwise enjoy. Psalm 19:7-8 says “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” God’s word is perfect, restores the soul, makes the simple-minded wise, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. There is nothing else in the world like God’s Word that can do any of these things, at least to the same perfect degree. It is no wonder that verse 11 here says that “in keeping [God’s Word] there is great reward.”
Lastly, the success of a Christian’s life is directly proportional to how careful he is to understand and obey God’s Word. Joshua 1:8 says that the “book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” The chief goal of every Christian is to glorify God. And scripture says that the degree of one’s success in accomplishing that goal is dependent on how careful one is in accurately understanding and applying God’s Word. In other words, God will only use the man who orders his life in accordance with His Word! Psalm 1 speaks of the righteous and blessed man who keeps God’s word. Verse 2 says, “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” And because he does those things, verse 3 says that “he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” The man who actively reads and meditates on the law of God will 1) be stable like a well-nourished tree, 2) be fruitful in the course of his life, and 3) does not ever wither or grow ineffective. In summary, the man who delights in God’s Word will prosper in whatever he does with regards to God’s will for his life.
Post by Alan Bui