Recently I posted about reasons to study the Bible - to really dig into the treasure of God's word. Since the post was already lengthy, I decided to finish up in a separate installment on some additional benefits of knowing God's Word.
You can find the full post about reasons one through four here, but a quick summary is:
1. So we will be adequate and equipped for every good work
2. It teaches us to see ourselves in light of scripture
3. What we learn is not going to change and will be useful forever
4. Hearing and understanding God’s word multiplies the fruit in our lives
Attribute of Scripture: Truth
5. Reasons to study: Knowing Truth Empowers Our Discernment In A Darkening Culture
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue [abide] in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32
Often, when we quote verse 32, we leave out verse 31, which is key. John is a writer who gives us several guides to knowing we are disciples of Christ, both in his gospel and in his letters (a lesson for another time).
One sign of being a disciple is continuing or abiding in His word. Not only that, but we will know the truth. American culture not only fights against truth in general, but THE truth. A singular truth.
Perhaps you have heard the analogy of bank employees learning how to identify counterfeit bills. They don’t learn by looking at counterfeits. They learn by studying TRUE currency.
This has always been important in discerning false teaching! Yet in this day of the 24-hour news cycle and so many media and social media access points, we are presented with a barrage of ideas that seem godly or biblical on the surface.Abiding in the Word of God is the only way to be sure we will be able to discern THE truth!
Attribute of Scripture: Power of God
6. Reason to study: To appropriate the power of God
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
I’ll never forget when this verse became compelling to me. In a blog post about the value of VBS, the writer addressed churches whose typical VBS child is someone from their own church who is being taught the Bible weekly. This is perceived by some as a negative and, as a VBS co-director, it has been discouraging for me at times.
The writer pointed to this verse to highlight that the gospel (the word of the cross) is the power of God. To whom? To those who are being saved. If you are in Christ, the gospel’s power is for you. It didn’t end when you took hold of Christ by faith. It is for you now.
If we believe God can do more than we can imagine, we need to remember that Paul says that is because of the power within us.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Don’t leave that power untapped! Dig into the Word to appropriate it for His glory!
Attribute of Scripture: Sword of the Spirit
7. Reason to study: To put on the whole armor of God
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
Paul admonishes us to fight the spiritual battles (and all our battles are spiritual) protected by the armor of God.
The ONLY weapon called out in this armor is the sword of the Spirit. Let us go into the battle completely prepared with the Spirit teaching us God’s word!
Bonus Reasons
I promised seven reasons and then found more. Here are a couple of bonus reasons to dig into God’s Word. Comment and let me know which one resonates with you most or a reason you would have put in that I left out.
Attribute of Scripture: Can abide in you extravagantly
Bonus 1. Reason to study: To guide your walk in a Christ-like manner
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
In Colossians 3, Paul gives us an extensive list of behaviors and attitudes that should be the DNA of a believer. He sums up with verse 16, which, to me, indicates how that is going to be possible.
Letting Scripture abide in you extravagantly is key to walking and thinking like Christ as Paul admonishes us in his letter to the Philippians. The Spirit will teach us through God’s word.
Jesus also taught that, not only will we keep His commandments (John 14:15), but when we do, He will love us and reveal Himself to us (John 14:21). There is more about Christ to know and obedience based on the knowledge we already have is the key to the godly living.
(2 Peter 1:3)
(2 Peter 1:3)
Attribute of Scripture: Can be stored up in your heart
Bonus 2. Reason to study: To be prepared for persecution
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11 ESV
We could make another long list of good reasons to study Scripture from Psalm 119. It is no coincidence that the longest chapter in the Bible details the priority and benefits of learning God’s law (AKA word).
In verse 11, the writer speaks of the importance of memorizing God’s word. Most of us have learned this verse as “hidden your word in my heart,” but the ESV shows us another use of the Hebrew here. The hiding action can be in order to hoard or protect something. Let’s be hoarding God’s word in our hearts!
Of course, memorizing Scripture so that you can call it to mind has many uses every day. But the thought that motivates me to hide it or store it up in my heart is the potential persecution. We think of that as something that happens in other countries and not here in the US.
Unfortunately, we have seen many ways in which the security we have felt as Christians in America has been shaken. If the Lord is going to call me to be persecuted for His name’s sake, I want to be ready to call His character, promises, and victory to mind so I can preach truth to myself if I don’t have access to a paper or digital copy of scripture.
PRAYER:
Father, help us to desire the benefits of sincere study of your Word. Help us long for more intimacy with you so that we can bear fruit that glorifies you, and be prepared for the battle by appropriating your power!
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
Take time to consider which of these reasons makes you the most uncomfortable. Ask God to help you submit.
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