The importance of ...

Bible Reading

"Of making many books there is no end," said Solomon. What would he say if he were alive now? But among all one is indispensable if we would be saved - the Bible, of course. Have you read it? Or rather, the question should be, Do you read it? If not, why not?

If God writes to us "the great things of His law," we ought to read. Of old, Israel did so. Moses read the words of the book of the covenant, which the people reverently accepted (Exodus 24:7). The King was to read in the book of the law all the days of his life (Deuteronomy 17:19). At the end of every seven years, in the year of release, the law was to be solemnly read in public (Deuteronomy 31:10-11). Joshua, at Shechem, read all the words of the law (Joshua 8:34).

Individual illustrations of the results of heeding or defying the law of God abound in the Scriptures. For example, Josiah, when the book of the law was found, trembled at the reading of God's word, and was divinely favoured in consequence (2 Kings 22:8). On the other hand, Jehoiakim rejected the word, and cut up and burned the scroll of Jeremiah, which was being read before him. His dishonoured dead body was the evidence of God's displeasure (Jeremiah 36).

Christ asks, "Have ye not read?"

When Christ came, his frequent rebuke of the ignorance and wickedness of the religious leaders of his day was in the form of the pointed question, "Have ye not read?" When they criticised his disciples for plucking corn on the Sabbath: "Have ye not read what David did?" (Matthew 12:3-5). Rebuking the Pharisees concerning divorce: "Have ye not read?" (see Genesis 2, with Matthew 19). Justifying the people when they shouted Hosanna: " Have ye not read?" (see Psalm 8, with Matthew 21). Summing up his parable of the vineyard: "Have ye not read" of that rejected Stone? (Psalm 118:22, with Matthew 21). Silencing the Sadducees concerning the resurrection of the dead: "Have ye not read" how God revealed it to Moses at the burning bush? (Exodus 3:4-6, with Matthew 22:31-32).

Warning his disciples to flee from the wrath to come upon Jerusalem, Jesus said: " When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy Place (whoso readeth let him understand), then … flee" (Daniel 8:9-14; 9:27, with Matthew 24). And when the time came, they were warned and fled - a very practical illustration of the value of reading the Scriptures.

When Christ is in the earth again - in a world full of Bibles - similar questions will come home with great force. Now is the time to read and be wise, that we may know of things to come, and what God would have us do that we may be saved.

Make time and place for the Word of God

Perhaps you are very busy, and feel you cannot spare much time. People spare time for what they love. If you can squeeze in half-an-hour a day, do so.

A plan which many Christadelphians have followed for a lifetime is the Bible Companion. It divides the Bible into three parts and a chapter is read daily from each of the three parts. By this method the Old Testament is read once and the New Testament twice in a year, without missing any part. Copies of the Bible Companion are freely available from any Christadelphian outlet, including several websites.

It is supposed by some that parts of the Bible are not what is called "devotional reading." Do not make this mistake. The Scriptures admit no such distinction. Whatever God has caused to be written we should read. So Paul argues (Romans 15:4), and Jesus always makes the fact of anything being written a reason for its acceptance. Growing familiarity will make you of one mind with Christ and Paul.

The Bible is the connected history of a divine development on earth. You cannot afford to leave parts out. Everything that is written in the Scriptures contributes to a state of enlightenment that is acceptable to God. To be understood, the Scriptures must be known, and to be known, they must be read, and to be read to any purpose, they must be read systematically, daily, and perseveringly. Don't leave anything out, and do not miss a day. By this, you will come at last to know God and His glorious purpose and His beneficent will. By this, you will be drawn to Him in friendship and prayer, and "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).