When you hear the word “discipline,” do you think of words like control, regulation, work, authority, rule, or strictness? Maybe it explains why so many Christians ignore the pleas of pastors across the country who want their flocks to make a discipline of reading their Bibles daily. Polls show that although the Bible is still among the best-selling books of all it remains one of the least read.
At Lifeway, we believe being in God’s Word is critical to our growth as believers. So, let’s spend a little time on the question, ‘Why should a Christian devote time reading the Word of God?’ We need to listen to God. God may not talk audibly to us, yet He speaks volumes through His Spirit and especially through His Word. Many a pastor has made the quip, ‘If you want to hear God’s voice audibly – read the Bible out loud!’ It is true. Over the history of Christianity, the Bible has spoken to the hearts and minds of His children through the passages of the Bible. “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.” (Psalm 119:18).
A second reason to read God’s Word is for us to know who God is. Paul writes in Romans that everybody knows that there is a God. Everyone knows that something does not come from nothing. Everybody believes in ‘a’ god. But few ‘know’ God. The Old Testament gives us the letter of God’s law – the New Testament the spirit of God’s law. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Dt. 6:5; Mt. 22:37). How is that possible without knowing who God is?
There is a popular notion among Christians today that one does not need to know doctrine, theology, creeds or history. “All I need to know,” they say, “is to know Jesus and have a relationship with Jesus.” But the minute you ask them just who Jesus is – you have entered into the world of theology and doctrine. You can only get those answers from the Word of God. We are called in our understanding to be mature (see 1 Cor. 14:20).