The greatest book of all time is the Bible. Its pages tell the story of us all. Men fought great battles, women had courage against the unknown, and everyday people accomplished amazing things. And many people leave it there, as simply an interesting history book. For a Christian, however, the main purpose of reading the Bible should be to gain a greater knowledge of God and a more intimate relationship with him. A Christian should study the Bible not only to gain wisdom and strength from its pages, but to truly get to know the God of the Bible in a deeper and more fulfilling way.
Know God Personally
Once a person has accepted Christ into their life, their journey to getting to know God begins. God did not leave Christians to wander on our own though, He gave us a great guide to teach and show us more about Him in the form of His Word, the Bible. Only by studying it diligently can we come to know Him. Of course, God is infinite, so coming to know Him completely would be harder than memorizing every multiplication fact from 0x0 to Infinity x infinity. However, as we study His word day by day, we will get to know Him better, and consequently become more like Christ.
Becoming more like Christ
After getting to know God’s character better by studying the Bible, we can begin to exemplify His character in our life. This is called “becoming Godly.” As we follow God and study his word, we will grow to be more like Him.
Growing to be like God is like getting to know God in that the process never ends. We will continue to be tempted by sin and struggle with sin until we get new glorified bodies in heaven. However, a godly person will fight against temptation and repent when he does sin. He can live a victorious life through prayer and following the Bible, and most importantly, he’ll give glory to God and point others to Him as well.
Defend Yourself
Studying the Bible equips us with the truth and knowledge to fight temptation. Peter warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV). A budding Christian is a prime target for the devil’s lies. He will try to destroy our testimony for Christ by enticing us with sin. Our greatest defense against these attacks is a deep knowledge of scripture. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Just as a man-at-arms practices daily with his sword to wield it effectively, we need to train and practice with our God-given sword every day.
Conclusion
Studying the Bible doesn’t promise to be easy, but it is a rewarding and necessary process for any Christian. The Lord encouraged Joshua when He said, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Studying the Bible is one of the most profitable and rewarding tasks that a Christian can do.
