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I can still see the beloved preacher standing in the aisle of our country church exclaiming, “Be
sure to read a little bit of the Bible every day.” His comment took root, and the Bible came alive for me at an early age. Though I haven’t always been consistent in following his advice,
Scripture has proven foundational. God’s Word has been a source of strength, comfort, and hope through life’s ups and downs.
After all these years, why do I still love the Bible?
The Bible Is True
We live in a day of information overload. We can Google any recipe, health issue, sports
schedule . . . or the weather in Australia! But how do we know that what we’re getting back is
true? Many recipes that promise to be the best don’t always live up to their fanfare. With
God’s Word, we don’t have to question whether the source is accurate or not.
Psalm 119:160 tells us God’s Word is true: “The sum of your word is truth” (ESV).
The Bible Is Inspired by God
In II Timothy 3:16, Scripture states, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” (CSB).
All 66 books of the Bible, 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, were
inspired by God. Written over spans of hundreds and sometimes thousands of years, and yet, the writings fit together.
God is an author we can trust. He’s the authority. The Word rebukes us if needed; it corrects and trains us; it instructs us on how to live. We’ve not been left without a guide for life.
The Bible Is Living and Active
Scripture states, “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 CSB).
The Word acts like a filter that sifts out the gritty gravel of life. Like a sword, it cuts through lies and reveals truth. Reading the Bible gives us the opportunity to make things right with God.
The Bible is living, active, and never grows old. We can read a passage, and something stands out to us. A year later, if we read the same passage, something new might be illuminated. The Bible speaks to all stages of life.
The Bible Is Filled with Real People
Throughout the Bible, God uses everyday, real people to accomplish His will. We’re shown their successes and failures (Aren’t we glad He included the failures?!) and how He worked them for good.
If God only worked through perfect people, the story of King David would not be included in the Bible. God spared the prostitute, Rahab, because she protected the spies. Rahab, along
with the Moabite widow, Ruth, became part of the lineage of Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus chose twelve ordinary men to be His disciples.
God continues to use ordinary, real people today. Like me. Like you.
The Bible Is A Guide for Life
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (NASB).
The Bible directs our paths; it shows us the best way to live. It gives us wisdom for all of life —
for decisions we make, how to prioritize, and how we treat people. It speaks to the spiritual
aspects of life, and it addresses the practical side as well. The book of Proverbs could be required reading for business management!
The Bible Leads Us to Jesus
The Bible is filled with good information that helps us, but the most important thing is that it
leads us to the Savior.
John 5:38-40 says, “You don’t have his word residing in you, because you don’t believe
the one he sent. You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them,
and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life” (CSB).
When we spend time in the Word, let’s remember that the words and lessons are intended to
draw us closer to the Savior. If we read and study the Bible but fail to come closer to Jesus, then we’ve missed the point. This book is so amazing, so intricately put together, and so speaks to our lives. Yet, we have to remember that the purpose of the Bible is to help nurture a growing relationship with Jesus.
How YOU Can Dive Into the Bible
There’s a plethora of Bible reading plans available. Please find one that works for you!
A personal favorite is The One Year Bible, which divides daily reading according to the calendar
date. Each day’s reading includes a portion of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and
Proverbs. At the end of the year, you will have read through the entire Bible. However, the daily
readings can be customized to suit busy stages of life — perfectionism not required. (The Bible police won’t come to your door to see you’re up-to-date!)
Our hope is that the Bible comes alive for you and daily reading leads to a closer walk with our
Lord Jesus.
You can learn more about the Bible through Humble Faith Ministries’ Bible studies. Check them
out, here.
We’re so glad you stopped by the blog today!
Scripture has proven foundational. God’s Word has been a source of strength, comfort, and hope through life’s ups and downs.
Patty Perkins is the Discipleship Coordinator for Humble Faith Ministries and the author of Prayer: Inviting the Lord Into Everyday Life. She enjoys long walks with her husband and gathering friends and family around her kitchen table. She and her husband love living back home in Kentucky and are grateful for their growing family. They have two grown sons who are married and two grandchildren they adore.