Reading the owners manual will help you get the best results.
Psalms 119:147-149 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words. I stay awake through the night, thinking about Your promise. In Your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry; let me be revived by following Your regulations.
Some of the most printed and least used books ever made are the owners manual. We buy a new product, we ignore the manual and we get right into using it, we don't care that the book is full of instruction and information that could help us out. We just let it sit around the house and collect dust until something goes wrong.
That's just how it is with God's word, most Christians know that the Bible is full of information that will help them get the most out of life but we let it sit around unused until we are in a situation that makes us panic. Now we are finally interested in getting acquainted with the directions.
I have to wonder if it really sinks into our heads when we call the Bible "God's word." Whose word? We call the Bible God's word and we don't think about what we are saying. How can we call it God's word and then ignore it like it couldn't possibly help us?
Check out the benefits of digging into God's word:
Study the Bible to grow.
1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.Everybody loves babies, whether it is a physical newborn or a spiritual newborn, we love to see new life. As happy as that makes us, we don't want to go see that same child three years later and find out that they are still an infant, that would make us sad.
The Apostle Paul was upset that the spiritual infants in Corinth were actually two year old. He couldn't teach them any deeper truths because they were still taking in milk. We start out with the milk of God's word such as "God so loved the world." As a brand new Christian you can understand that concept but if we go deep into theology too soon you won't be able to handle it. (I Corinthians 3:1-3)
Study the Bible to defeat sin.
Ephesians 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.What is the one weapon the Christian has? The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The writer of the Book of Hebrews says that it is a double edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)
The weapon of choice for Jesus in the desert is the weapon that we need to use (Luke 4:1-13) We need to know what the word of God says so that we can fight off Satan's temptation and get the victory. The Bible will help us to be cleansed from sins power when we are tempted to stray. (Psalm 119:9-11)
Study the Bible to train for service.
Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you doYou have to admit that babies are good for cuddling but they are not very useful. You can't tell a baby to help you clean the house or go earn a paycheck. We need to be in the word to grow so that we can be useful in the family of God, we need to get a job, we can't sit around for years in a stroller while other Christians do all of the work. (Ephesians 2:10)
The Bible will teach us and show us what needs to be changed so that we will be equipped to work for serving. It is critical that we know what God's word says so that we can serve him properly. It won't help to work for the kingdom while breaking God's commands.
Study the Bible to be blessed.
Psalms 1:1-3 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.The blessings of studying the Bible include being a happier person. If you are really into the Bible and applying it to your life then there isn't any room for misery. Miserable Christians are the ones that are defeated because they are not tapping into the power of God's word. No matter what the circumstances are you will have God's promises to give you hope and joy to get through it.
Study the Bible to help others.
2 Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.You can't help anybody unless you know something, your ignorance not only makes you unable to help yourself, but it makes you unable to help anybody else. How can we show the world that we have the answers to life's trials if we are ignorant of how God helps us? We need to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in Christ. (1 Peter 3:15)
If you want to keep from wasting your life then you need to read the instructions that came from the designer and creator of your life. That should be very exciting to us!
What a blessing it is to have the words of our creator to give us understanding, the thought that he took the time to speak to us, he preserved his word through the ages so that he could tell us about himself and give us instructions on how to know him.
