We believe that there is power in an open Bible. Join us for a 30-Day Bible Challenge as we encourage you to engage with Scripture daily through the Open Bible.
This week: The Importance of God’s Word
Day One: Watch the Sunday Sermon
Day Two: Reading God’s Word
“Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:3
Those who invest time and energy into reading God’s Word stand a much better chance of growing in their new life in Christ than those who rely merely upon hearing what others tell them about God’s Word. Indeed, reading the Bible might be the greatest single factor in spiritual growth. Public Scripture reading was a regular part of the worship services in Israel and in the early church. Not everyone then had their own copy of the Scriptures, and not everyone could read. Today, however, we live in a time when literacy rates are higher than ever and the Bible is readily accessible. As you seek to engage the Scriptures in study, here are a few suggestions to aid you in receiving the greatest benefit from doing so:
a. Read prayerfully. Ask the Spirit of God to help and guide you as you read (Ps. 119:18).
b. Read thoughtfully. Think about the meaning and implications of what you are reading.
c. Read carefully. Take careful note not only of the words that are used but also of how they relate to one another.
d. Read regularly. It is good to have a particular time every day when you habitually give yourself to the reading of the Word of God.
e. Read repeatedly. It may be of great help to read the same portion over daily for a month’s time. This is a good way for its words to take root in your heart. If you are reading a short book, read it every day. Divide longer books into manageable portions of two or three chapters and read that portion through every day.
f. Read extensively. Sometimes it is of great help to read large portions of the Word of God through at one sitting. If you do this, do it at a time when you are alert and not likely to be disturbed during your reading.
g. Read faithfully. Inevitably there will be days when you will not read the Bible. Strive to keep these gaps as brief as possible. When you miss a day or two, faithfully resume your practice of reading God’s Word the next day.
h. Read obediently. Because the Bible is God’s Word written for you, it is essential to obey it (Ex. 24:3).
Day Three: Memorizing God’s Word
“Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.” Job 22:22
Even with the Bible being as prevalent as it is, you might not always have it handy in a time of need. If you have memorized a portion of the Word of God, however, you will always have those passages handy to meditate upon, draw meaning from, and live out. This is why the Bible itself recognizes the importance of Scripture memorization, noting the following benefits:
a. It keeps us from sinning (Ps. 119:11).
b. It comforts us in times of trouble (Ps. 119:52, 92).
c. It fixes the mind upon God (Ps. 43:3).
d. It provides daily sustenance for the spiritual life (Deut. 8:3).
e. It provides continual and ready guidance in all the situations of life (Prov. 6:20–23).
f. It provides the basis for formal and informal instruction of our children (Deut. 6:6–7).
Day Four: Meditating Upon God’s Word
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
Joshua had just succeeded Moses as the nation of Israel’s leader. Moses, who had led the nation for forty years, had the benefit that all the wisdom and culture of Egypt and the king’s household could provide. Moses was a seasoned, multitalented man who had walked closely with God. By contrast, Joshua was relatively untried. He was assuming an awesome responsibility in taking command of two-and-a-half million people. If anyone needed a formula for success, Joshua did. Likely, there were many well-meaning people with all kinds of advice and formulas to help Joshua in the seemingly impossible task that lay ahead. What comfort and assurance it must have been as the Lord spoke directly to Joshua, assuring him He would be present with him as He had been with Moses (Josh. 1:5), and giving him the key to success—meditating upon God’s Word.
Joshua was to meditate upon the Word of God day and night (i.e., at all times), and was promised prosperity and good success in the God-given task that was ahead. Reading and memorizing God’s Word provide the basis for meditating upon God’s Word. We meditate upon the Word of God by repeatedly pondering it and rehearsing what it says to understand its implications for the situations of life. Meditating upon the Word of God is a channel to prosperity and blessing in the new life.
Day Five: Obeying God’s Word
“Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 31:12
Reading, memorizing, and meditating upon the Word of God are of no value without obeying the Word of God. To obey the Word of God, we do what the Word of God indicates should be done in any situation. Obeying the Word of God is how we can please God in the new life.
Obedience to God’s Word results in: being treasured by God (Ex. 19:5); blessedness (happiness) in life (Ps. 119:2); not being ashamed (Ps. 119:4–6); understanding (Ps. 119:100); avoidance of evil (Ps. 119:101); guidance for life (Ps.119:105); safety and freedom from anxiety (Prov. 1:33); life (Prov. 19:16; Ezek. 18:19; John 8:51); God’s blessing (Is. 1:19); greatness in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:19); bearing fruit for God (Matt. 13:23); manifesting love for God (John 14:23; 1 John 2:5); promise of God’s presence (John 14:23; 2 John v. 9); abiding in the love of God (John 15:10); evidence of the doctrine that has been taught (Rom. 6:17); assurance of salvation (1 John 2:3); eternal life (1 John 2:17); dwelling in God (1 John 3:24); love of God’s children (1 John 5:2); and entrance into heaven (Rev. 22:7).
Day Six: Knowing God’s Word
Christians should know the Bible for many reasons, but a primary one is because God is its Author. We know that God is Creator (Gen. 1:1), Redeemer (Is. 60:16), and Judge (Gen. 18:25), but do we also think of Him as the Author of the Bible? Human writers feel it vital that we read their books; it is much more important that we read God’s Book, the Bible.
About fourteen centuries before Christ, our Bible had its beginnings in the Sinai desert. In this arid place, God spoke to Moses, who had once been a prince in Egypt and was nearly 120 years old at the time. At the Lord’s command, Moses picked up his pen and began writing Scripture’s first five books, Genesis through Deuteronomy. More than 1,500 years later, the divine manuscript was completed on a lonely, windswept island in the Mediterranean Sea by a former fisherman, John the apostle. From Genesis through Revelation there are sixty-six divinely inspired books. Over the centuries, approximately forty authors—representing varied backgrounds and writing styles—served as channels for God’s Word. Yet, despite these variations in time and talent, the completed work displays a marvelous historical, theological, geographical, topical, and biographical unity. The Bible’s practical benefits for us may well be summarized under two headings: knowing and growing.
The Bible proclaims the good news of the gospel that we might know God; it explains the will of God that all of us may grow spiritually before Him. Scripture also reveals our place within God’s program and answers crucial questions pertaining to our origin, purpose, and destiny. Because God has revealed His unchanging truths, the Christian faith provides real answers and guidance to every generation. Although we might not be able to grasp how individual events fit into God’s program (Eccl. 11:5), we can understand God’s basic plan so that we come to know and serve Him. Few joys can compare with realizing our places in God’s program and working to fulfill our destinies.
Day Seven: How God’s Word Benefits Us
“Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Daniel 11:32
We Know God Through His Word
One of the most vital teachings of Scripture is that God can be known. The highest knowledge to which we can attain is knowing God personally (Jer. 9:24). People do not naturally possess this knowledge (Rom. 3:10–11), even though they know that He exists (Rom. 1:19–20). Knowing that God exists is not the same as knowing God personally, just as knowing about the President does not mean necessarily that you know the President personally. This knowledge of God is crucial, however, since it is preparatory for coming to faith in Christ, being forgiven, and having eternal life (John 17:3). The only way we can know God is to first know of Him. People should rejoice in the fact that God earnestly wants them to attain this knowledge. That is why He has spoken to us in His Word, revealing Himself and disclosing how we may know Him.
While God surely can be known, there is always more to be learned about Him. There are many Scriptures that teach that our knowledge of God is partial. It is said to be “too wonderful” (Ps. 139:6), “unsearchable”(Ps. 145:3), and “infinite” (Ps. 147:5). Since our knowledge of God is incomplete, we must increase it through spiritual growth. Paul, for example, prayed to know God better (Phil. 3:10). We are even commanded to grow in the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). Developing our intimate knowledge of God is one of the greatest delights of the Christian life.
The Bible also reveals that God cannot be known personally apart from His Word. It contains the gospel that must be believed (Eph. 1:13), and the gospel brings forth saving faith in itself (Rom. 10:17). The gospel can, therefore, be called “the power of God to salvation” (Rom. 1:16). The part the Scriptures and the gospel contained within them play in bringing people to know God is described in three important illustrations: the gospel is the agent of the new birth (James 1:18), that is, it is like the implanted seed without which the conception of new life cannot occur; it is also the cleansing agent through which God bathes the new believer, resulting in salvation (Eph. 5:26); the Scriptures are like an educator bringing the wisdom that leads to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15).
We Know God’s Will Through His Word
Knowing God’s will must not be thought of merely as finding a certain vocation in life or a spouse. Those are certainly parts of God’s will, but they are far from its whole. Rather, the will of God is for everyone to live in conformity to His revealed will in His Word. First, and most important, of all, the will of God means believing Jesus (John 6:40). If we do not take this first step in doing God’s will, we will not be saved from judgment (Matt. 7:21); if we do, we will live forever with God (1 John 2:17).
Second, there are clear statements of Scripture teaching that God’s will for every Christian includes sanctification (1 Thess. 4:3), giving thanks to God (1 Thess. 5:18), doing good (1 Pet. 2:15), and suffering for doing the right thing (1 Pet. 3:17). Third, the Bible is God’s will and must be applied to our lives (Deut. 29:29). This fact involves commands to be obeyed, principles to be followed, prohibitions of things to be avoided, and living examples to be imitated or shunned. An attitude of delightful desire should fill all attempts to do God’s will (Ps. 40:8). God takes great joy in those who cheerfully do His will.
Although the Bible is a complete revelation of God’s will, there are always decisions we must make that are not covered by specific statements of Scripture. To know God’s will in such instances we must bein fellowship with the Lord (1 John 1:6–7), seek principles from the Word (1 Cor. 10:6), obtain advice from godly counselors (Prov. 11:14), use common sense, and remember that God works through our own minds and desires to do His will (Phil. 2:13). When none of these principles seem to work, we must simply make the best possible decision, realizing God will shut the door if it is not His will. Paul, for example, planned to go and see the Roman Christians, although not knowing if God would permit it in His will (Rom. 15:22–32). In most cases, however, the believer who thoroughly searches the Word will find the basis for an intelligent decision.
Open Bible
For over 50 years, The Open Bible has been the trusted companion for millions seeking a deeper connection with Scripture. This timeless edition goes beyond reading the Bible; it helps you uncover the richness and depth of God’s message, guiding you through the interconnected themes of this divine masterpiece that weave through Genesis to Revelation
