Encouragement to Study the Bible

In this article we will encourage you to study God's Word, the Bible.

God's Word is a Treasure to be Pursued

The Bible is the Word of God. Few things can change your life for the better than the time you spend studying God's Word. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said this of God's wisdom:

Again in Proverbs 8:10-11 where wisdom personified is speaking, "Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her." Read those verses again! God's wisdom is a treasure. Who doesn't love the thought of going on a treasure hunt? If we knew the location of some buried treasure, we would spare no effort to find it. If we had to miss a meal or two while we dig for treasure---no problem! Job felt that way, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12b). Job didn't just say God's Word was more important to him than food but more important than his necessary food. Think about it!

The importance of God's Word wasn't lost on Jeremiah either, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart" (Jeremiah 15:16).

The Believer Should Have an Insatiable Appetite for God's Word

In light of the fact that God's Word is a treasure, why do so few Christians love to dig into it? Why are most of us satisfied being spoon-fed a feel-good sermon on Sunday morning, but not willing to work ourselves at learning what God has to say to us?

Take some time to meditate on that question in light of your own attitude toward studying God's Word. Bible study is not optional for the believer, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" [I Peter 2:2].

We should desire or long for the pure milk of God's Word as a baby desires or longs for milk when he is hungry. Every parent will smile at the imagery used by Peter here. There is no stopping the hungry baby, and the parents had better get the message or they will have no peace! A desire for God's Word is one thing that typically characterizes a new believer. This is a God-given desire.

God's Word is the Foundation for the Believer's Spiritual Growth

God wants His children to be conformed to the image of His dear Son (Romans 8:29) and this is accomplished by spiritual growth. The theological term for growth is sanctification, and the method God uses to sanctify the believer is His truth according to John 17:7, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

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

Paul admonished the believer not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of his mind (Romans 12:2). The Word of God is the tool God uses to change our thinking to conform to His thinking. Solomon taught that a man is what he thinks, "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he." (Proverbs 23:7a).

The faithful intake and application of God's Word to your life under the ministry of the Holy Spirit, changes your character so that you can glorify the Lord you love.

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