Why should I read the Bible?

Matthew 4:4 (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: `No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ “

There will be times in our life that we are tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time. If we indulge in sin we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways. Many of your desires are normal and good, but God wants you to satisfy them in the right way and at the right time.

Exposure to good Bible teaching through Sunday school, church, Bible study, and personal and family devotions is essential for living as God intended.

The Bible is God’s Word to us, quick and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), but we cannot know what God wants us to do if we do not read it.  And even reading God’s Word is not enough; we must be willing to do what it says.

As we travel through life, the Bible should be our road map, instructions pointing out safe routes, obstacles to avoid, and our final destination.

Romans 15:4 (New King James Version)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

The word Bible as an acronym means: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. We must recognize ourselves as travelers here on earth, with the need to study God’s instructions to learn the way.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New Living Translation)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Because it is inspired and trustworthy, we should read it and apply it to our life. The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. It is our safeguard against false teaching and our source of guidance for how we should live.

It is our only source of knowledge about how we can be saved. God wants to show you what is true and equip you to live for him.  If we ignore the instructions, we will wander aimlessly through life and risk missing our real destination.