Why do we need to read the Bible daily?

Question:

I have a questions that demands a convincing answer, especially for nonbelievers, but also for believers who need to be convinced of the importance of daily Bible reading. If you could write an article specifically devoted to this subject I would greatly appreciate it. So, why should we study the Bible on a daily basis?

God has a lot to say on the subject of daily Bible study. There are many, many passages that refer specifically to this theme. The most basic reason is . . .

So that you can be content

1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers ! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither ; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1)

As you can see, the righteous man is compared to a tree firmly planted by streams of water. The same way that the water gives life to the tree, so the Word of God gives life to the man. If the Word of God is missing from your life then you cannot bear fruit in your life, fruit that will make you satisfied and successful in this life. On the other hand, if you meditate on the Law of the Lord (Bible) day and night, then you will delight in life every single day. You will be content and satisfied in this life and you will produce fruit at the right time, and in what ever you do, you will prosper.

So you can live the righteous lifestyle that God requires

In this books of holy songs, Psalms, mostly written by king David, we find the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119 which is all about the importance of the Word of God. Here are the reasons why king David says that it is important to study the Word of God daily:

  • So you will be blessed (content) in life as you live blamelessly (1)
  • So you will not live in sin (3)
  • If you are a young person, you will keep your lifestyle pure by living according to the Word of God (9)
  • So that you can hide God’s Word in your heart and not sin against Him (11)
  • So you can rejoice in the Word like people do in all riches (14)
  • So you will not forget the Word of God (16)
  • So you will turn your eyes from vanity (37)
  • So you can live according to God’s righteous requirements (40)
  • So you can have an answer for the one who reproaches (mocks) you (42)

So that you can be saved

This is one of the greatest reasons why people should be motivated to read the Bible daily (personal salvation). In the Bible, God explains the sinful nature of man, that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ“. This profound truth needs to be understood and believed and this can only be done through reading and understanding the Scriptures because “faith comes through hearing and hearing comes through the Word of God“. Toward the end of the Gospel of John we find the following:

30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book ; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20)

That is why true Christians put forth so much effort and place their lives on the line, so that this Word of God can get to the people in order that they can have the possibility to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved from eternal damnation.

Someone may ask, but if I am already saved, why do I still need to read the Bible?

So that you can be a man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work

Timothy, Paul’s disciple, was blessed with the fact that he had a mother and grandmother who were believers. Their faith was sincere and they taught Timothy the Scriptures from his childhood days. The Scriptures helped form Timothy’s character from a very young age, helping him to grow into a man of God. After he was grown, he met the Apostle Paul and was trained by one of the greatest missionaries of all time, serving right along beside him. Look at the final words that Paul leaves for Timothy before this great Apostle left this world:

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness ; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3)

The only way a man of God will become adequate, equipped for every good work is by searching the Scriptures on a daily basis. Woe to the Lord’s servant who does not place high value on searching the Scriptures daily.

If you have not been motivated enough to study the Scriptures daily by all of the benefits that you have seen then I would challenge you to read the Bible from cover to cover (Genesis to Revelation). The Bible is the Word of God, but if you do not believe this then you still must admit that It has been the most influential Book of all time. It is difficult to understand human history, cultural history, and art history if you do not have a basic understanding of the Bible. If you went to a world renowned museum and had no idea about the Bible, then you would be lost when looking at much of the art and sculptures.

The Bible is the Word of God, written by men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit so when you read the Bible, in fact each time, before you begin, you need to ask God to guide you through the power of the Holy Spirit so that you can understand the passage, be able to apply It to your life, and then be able to share It with others.

Translation by: Erik Brewer