Do I Really Need To Read My Bible Every Day?

By F. D. Adkins

My topic for today actually came to me as I was writing the part in last week’s post about Jesus quoting the scripture in Isaiah after overturning the tables in the Temple. Then, later in the week, the idea was corroborated as the topic came to my mind again during a discussion with my children about study habits. So, continuing with the certainty that this would be the topic for this week, my search through the Bible began.

This study is going to answer the question:

WHY DO I NEED TO READ MY BIBLE DAILY?

Obviously, I need to read the Bible daily. Reading the Bible fills me with hope, joy, encouragement…. However, I am going to share four specific reasons that I outlined in my study with the support of the Scripture.

• Reason #1:  It is God’s instructions for my life.

The Bible not only gives us the ten commandments, but throughout the Bible, God clearly lays out what is sin leaving no room for a gray area. The Bible teaches us how to be saved, how to pray, and how to be more like Jesus.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

Therefore… I need to read God’s Word daily, so I can be sure I am following His instruction for my life.

“… but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein…” Joshua 1:8 KJV

• Reason #2: The Word of God is part of our armor.

In Ephesians 6:11 KJV, Paul says to “put on the whole armour of God.” Then he goes on to list the parts of the armor detailing in verse 17, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

As I said above, the idea for this post came to me when I was writing my previous post about Jesus overturning the tables in the Temple. He was angry, but He did not sin. Instead, He quoted scripture, Isaiah 56:7. Notice Jesus’ use of the words ‘It is written,’ in Matthew 21:13 KJV. “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Of course, scripture is the defense Jesus uses when He is tempted by the devil. Do you remember when Jesus was in the wilderness, and the devil wanted Jesus to turn the stones into bread? “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 KJV. There are those words again… ‘It is written.’

Now, as I also said before, the second time I thought about doing this post was when I was talking to my children about study habits. So, if you will bear with me in a little experiment. Go pick up your Bible… a paper version you hold in your hands… not the version on your phone. How many pages are there? As I look at my Bible, I know that if I do not read it daily, I will not be prepared to quote scripture. When the enemy comes along whispering his lies in my ear, I need God’s Word as a weapon. It’s not a weapon if I don’t know how to use it. And I learn to use it by studying it every day.

Take a look at Job who faced ultimate tribulation. He says in Job 23:12 KJV, “… I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

• Reason #3: God speaks to us through His Word.

I often hear people say that they can’t hear God speaking to them. I believe that God speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes it’s a feeling inside. Sometimes it’s through a friend or a song. And sometimes it’s through a verse we have read many times before that now suddenly stands out in an entirely new way. The Bible is God’s Word, so it seems clear to me that God would speak to me through His Word. So, I ask myself, if I do not read my Bible daily, how can God speak to me through it?

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV

• Reason #4: God tells me to.

He says to meditate on it ‘day and night’.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8 KJV

SO … Why Read My Bible EVERY DAY?

One final thought…

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 KJV

And since I eat every day (multiple times), this verse is self-explanatory. I need to read God’s Word daily to live.