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Our lives are busy. They are filled with deadlines, dinners, and dates that consume much of our time. But in order to effectively become more and more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29), we need to read our Bibles. Here are four reasons why:
1. Transformation Increases
In order to grow deeper in your spiritual life, you need to remain connected to the one that enables you to grow deeper (Jn. 15:1-5), allow the Holy Spirit to transform your mind (Rom. 12:2), and as a result the way you live your life outwardly will reflect the change that has happened inwardly (Jm. 1:22).
John 15:1-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
James 1:22 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2. Succumbing to Temptation Decreases
We will all be tempted in this life. Being tempted is not wrong, nor does it mean that you are lesser of a Christ-follower because of it. Jesus was tempted (Mtt. 4) and James lets us know that temptation originates from Satan manipulating our natural desires (James 1:13-15) which were given to us by God (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:21-23).
Matthew 4:4-6 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:11 – so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
3. Jesus Models It
Jesus’ life and ministry were marked by his overwhelming knowledge of the Bible and the authoritative way he handled the Scriptures when he preached in the local Synagogues (Mtt. 7:28; Mk. 1:22; Lk. 4:32-34). Jesus is our example in which to base our lives (Rom. 8:28-29) and he constantly read and studied the Scriptures.
Luke 4:16-17 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written.
4. Spiritual Foundations
Think of your spiritual life as a house. When you are building a house you have to start with a good foundation. The height of the house is in direct correlation to the depth of the foundation. So in order to build properly and to reach your fullest potential you must have a strong, deeply established structural foundation. It’s the same principle for your spiritual foundation. It needs to go deep into the Bible so that you are able to find the stability that you will need in order to build and withstand the whatever this world decides to throw your way. Jesus even talks about this in the Parable of the Builders (Lk. 6:46-49).
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a might crash.
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