2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Most of us long to hear from God. There are amazing stories of God speaking audibly to people or revealing Himself through miraculous signs or visions. However, not all of us will experience this supernatural communication. What we do have at our disposal, now more convenient than ever, is His very Word to us in Scripture. The Bible is God’s message directly to his children.
Through His Word and the working of the Holy Spirit, God reveals to us who He is, direction for our lives, and all the answers we could ever need here on earth. This is why reading the Bible every day is so important. Just as Paul told Timothy in his second letter, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
For many years the Bible was daunting and somewhat confusing for me, but several years ago, I did a Bible study that helped bring it all together for me. Seamless by Angie Smith shows how the Bible is one seamless story told from Genesis to Revelation. It was so impactful I began the challenge of reading the entire Bible in a year. When you understand how each piece of the Bible fits n the greater narrative, it makes even Leviticus come to life.
There are so many resources out there that help explain the Bible, giving historical and cultural clarity. From study Bibles to commentaries, so much is available to help explain God’s message to our modern understanding. If you are new to reading the Bible, I recommend a paraphrase translation like The Message or a modern translation like the New Living Translation. The You Version Bible App not only gives you access to multiple versions of the Bible, but it also has reading plans and video Bible studies to help explain what you are reading.
As a follower of Christ, the Bible should be a part of your daily time with God. His Word is how we hear from our Father. In his book, The Attributes of God, Arthur W. Pink confronts the issue in modern Christian circles. “To countless thousands, even among those professing to be Christians, the God of Scripture is quite unknown.” Pink goes on to say that we have gotten comfortable letting our understanding of God come solely from others rather than spending time in Scripture to gain understanding of God for ourselves. Though the words of others can be encouraging, it should not replace the words spoken directly from God Himself through His Word. We need to be in the Bible every day, as Pink says, “searching Scripture for ourselves, rather than lazily accepting the teaching of others.”
If you need understanding for what you are reading, ask! James tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). God’s desire is to reveal His heart to us and for us to know Him. He will be faithful to give you understanding of His Word.
Ephesians 3:16-19 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Make it a goal this year to spend time each day in Scripture. Dig deep into the areas you may not understand for clarity. Who authored the passage and what was the purpose in writing it? What was going on at the time the passage was written? How does Jesus fit into the passage? As much as we long to hear from God, He longs to speak to us even more. This is why He gave us Jesus, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Below are some of my favorite Scripture resources along with a prayer as you seek to mediate on His promises and truth a goal for this year.
“Father, thank you for Your Word and for the way You use it to speak to me, teach me, and draw me closer to You. I ask for understanding as I read Your promises and truth. Guide me as I navigate Your Words and learn to apply them in my daily life. Remind me to meditate on Your promises and truth rather than the lies and insecurities from the enemy.”