We have let sin infiltrate our churches under the guise of political correctness, and it hasn't saved a soul. We let ourselves become deceived by the enemy and adapt his lies into our lives; no one is better for it.
Bible study was never meant to be at the top (or bottom) of our daily to-do list. Modern Christians have forgotten how essential the Bible is. Today, it is no more than a book that Christians are supposed to have in their possession. Some lifelong churchgoers may tote them around on Sunday morning, but most don't.
We may not see Bibles in hand because many use a digital Bible, but how often are we opening them? And why should we?
Have you ever wondered why we need to study the Bible? I'll give you a hint; it has nothing to do with gold stars.
Here are five reasons why Bible study is necessary:
Mature Our Faith
Bible study is necessary to mature our faith/relationship with God. We must continue learning for as long as we are here. This reason sounds so logical, but for some reason, it doesn't provoke Christians to open up their Bible and start connecting with their Creator. Perhaps it's because even Christians have become too self-serving in their faith.
For decades, the focus presented in the church has been on how good God is to us and how He helps us obtain our heart's desires. While these beliefs are partially true, they focus on a person's self-interest, where we've gotten into a lot of trouble.
Our obsession with focusing on ourselves, our comfort, desires, needs, and wants has weakened the church. Our focus on God has been on how He can serve us instead of how we can serve Him and carry out His perfect plans. We've been doing it for so long that we don't even notice our self-centeredness, our idolatry.
When you study the Bible, you can consistently see that God wants us to draw near Him, rely on Him, surrender to Him, and follow His perfect ways that have been laid out for us. None of what God reveals to us fits with God serving our worldly desires conceived by the world's standards.
Even within the church, we make decisions like the world and attempt to measure up in society; the only difference is we have deceived ourselves into believing that God is backing our decisions because He is "for us." We believe this because we don't study our Bibles.
We rely on Pastors or spiritual mentors to guide us, but if we don't diligently seek God's truth in His word, we'll never know if our hearing is accurate. We will follow our leaders right off a cliff even though Jesus warns us that many will lead us astray, so we need to be alert (Mark 13:33) and test the spirits. In Mark 13:33, Jesus speaks about judgment day and how no one will know the time or place. This warning is still alive and active today. If Christ came today, would you be ready to meet Him in glory, or would He say, "depart from me, I never knew you."? (Matthew 7:21-23).
Let me encourage you to answer the question truthfully. Do you truly know God? It's the most important question you could ever answer. God has given us everything we need to know Him genuinely, but are we using it? Allowing ourselves to be deceived won't excuse us.
God loves us deeply. He gave us His plan, Word, Holy Spirit, and perfect Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that we could be in a relationship with Him. But it's our choice whether we engage with Him or not. Without a doubt, I know your faith will only go so far without consistent Bible study; time in God's truth.
Foundation of Our Faith
The Bible is the foundation of our faith. There is no truth without it. Think about that for a second. If you proclaim that Jesus Is your Savior, then your foundation of truth lies within the pages of the Bible. If you don't read it (to learn how to live), how can you live according to God's plan?
I'm sure you've been encouraged to read your Bible before, and maybe you are one of the few who do (hooray!), but knowing and doing aren't the same thing. So let me encourage you to make time for God. The more you make time for Him, the more He will change you. We belong in Christ, but if we don't make time for Him, we miss out. Also, to struggle with making time for God means that far too many idols are vying for your attention.
Idolatry is so easy to fall into, especially when the thing that steals our focus and time is something "good." It's easier to keep the bad habits away than realize that this good thing in your life is taking up too much space
Take your busyness to God and ask Him to clear your plate and only put what He wants on that plate. Surrendering your to-do list or desires will be more than just a one-and-done activity. It will be something you practice for the rest of your life, and it's good because it keeps you connected to God! When Jesus tells us to abide in Him, this type of practice is what He means. God doesn't expect us to take what He gives and run with it; He's ready to do it with us!
To Know Love and Truth
We can't know God's will, love, and truth without the Bible. The Bible is God's Word. Through His Word, we find Him, His ways, His promises, and our answers. It obtains everything we need to flourish in our lives. When we neglect our study of God's Word, we miss out. And even worse, we let the world confuse us.
We can't know God and walk in His ways if we don't know what His ways are, and the church you attend (or listen to) can't be the only source on which you rely. God created you to have an intimate relationship with you.
God has revealed so much of His character to me through the Bible. Interestingly enough, He reveals more about who He is in the Old Testament (to me), and I have found a zeal for sharing these revelations.
The entire Bible is worth studying. Its benefits never end.
Preparation for Battle
Bible study prepares us for imminent battles. Jesus and his apostles warned us against false prophets, wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). We are also to test the spirits against the Word of God (1 John 4:1). It says that many false prophets have been sent out into the world. These warnings were sincere, and humankind has not changed its wicked ways, so they remain valid.
Being on alert against false teachings is part of our spiritual growth. You're right if you think reading the Bible isn't the only way to prepare against false teachings. But to attempt to do it without the Bible is impossible.
We cannot improve this world without God. All the social injustices we despise will only grow worse. Violence and greed will continue to increase. All the things that make us angry won't fade away until repentance happens inside our hearts.
Jesus promised that we would have trials and told us how to get through them. To know His battle plans, we must study the Bible. There is no other alternative if we want to walk in Christ's ways and shine bright in His light.
The Answers We Seek
The Bible holds the answers we seek. We cannot fix the world's problems with the tools of the world. We have many problems because we've neglected seeking God and settled for religion.
We have let sin infiltrate our churches under the guise of political correctness, and it hasn't saved a soul. We let ourselves become deceived by the enemy and adapt his lies into our lives; no one is better for it.
The truth is that the wages of sin are darkness and death. We have one way out of that death: through the blood of Jesus, who shines light into our lives.
Salvation is a one-time gift, but the commitment to follow Jesus and serve Him with our lives takes practice. It requires the desire to follow Him. If you want the perk of eternal life without the desire to submit to God's will, He knows that. We must be open to the lifelong process of sanctification. It will not happen by accident.
We cannot neglect the Bible and claim to stand on God's promises; His love. Because without the Bible, you can't know God in all the ways He wants you to. A solid foundation is non-negotiable.
We cannot abide by the ever-changing rules of the world and expect anything good. We must abide in Jesus. Not a Jesus imagined by modern society, but the Father/Son/Spirit revealed to us in His Holy Word.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Rawpixel
Vanessa Luu is a wife, mother, and faith-based writer. She speaks and writes to believers to encourage them to live authentically with God.
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