Why The Bible?

Often new believers ask why Christians put so much emphasis on the Bible. The main reason is this: The way you treat your Bible is the way you treat Jesus Christ. He is the living Word and the Bible is the written Word, and they agree in their character and ministry.

If we ignore the Bible, we are ignoring the Father who gave us the Bible, the Son who is the theme of the Bible and the Spirit who wrote the Bible and wants to teach it to us. The Book of Hebrews opens by saying, “God … has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). That idea is reinforced later in the book, too: “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks” (Hebrews 12:25).

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When I open my Bible and open my heart to learn, God opens His mouth and speaks to me and the Holy Spirit teaches me. Although it’s an ancient book, the Bible speaks to people today because it teaches timeless truths. It tells us the truth about the world around us, the future before us and the problems within us. That’s why God’s Word is always relevant. The Bible is a source of information that never grows old.

Information produces transformation, and this information is more than just Bible facts—it is spiritual truths. When we understand Bible truth and receive it into our hearts, that truth releases spiritual power and we are changed to become more like Christ. It’s like the story of the man with the shriveled hand found in Mark 3. Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, which was something the man couldn’t do.

But our Lord’s word of command has power to make things happen. All we need to do is receive the Word, trust it and obey it, and God will do wonderful things.

A third reason the Bible is so important is found in Psalm 40:8: “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” We’ve gone from information to transformation to motivation. What motivates us to read, study and obey the Bible? We love Him because we have His Word in our hearts. What we do as believers is important, but why we do it is also important. The more we know about Jesus, the more we love Him. It’s a spiritual chain reaction.

You may be thinking, But that means I must spend time every day reading my Bible and learning from it. Precisely! It’s a daily discipline, like taking a shower or eating meals. The Word cleanses us (John 15:3, Ephesians 5:25-27) and the Word feeds us. And don’t forget about exercise. Take a look at Matthew 4:4, 1 Peter 2:2, Jeremiah 15:16 and 1 Timothy 4:7-8. Praying, worshiping, giving, using the skills God has given us—all these things develop our spiritual muscles and help make us strong in the Lord.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “I see it now, but how do I get started?”

Choose an accurate Bible translation, one that’s clear and understandable. I recommend the King James Version or the New King James Version, if you have difficulties understanding Elizabethan English. Choose the best time and place for you to meet with the Lord. Read your Bible carefully, meditate on it and pray for enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. Read systematically and follow a schedule.

Begin with the book of John in the New Testament, then find a certain daily Bible reading pattern which is best for you, and then follow that pattern of reading each day as you move to the following chapters and books. If a chapter is long, break it into comfortable reading units, but stay with the plan. It takes time to develop this discipline, but it’s worth the struggle.

There’s one more thing. Application. The Lord will guide you in applying His Word to the practical details of your busy life. Romans 5:17 describes a coronation, where we each allow Jesus to be seated on the throne of our lives. We’re there with Him and we reign together with Him. Through information, transformation, motivation and coronation, the Bible helps us to understand just how to live the Christian life.