The word tells us to read the scripture because God knows us best. He knows what we need. Reading the Bible from cover to cover purposed to learn about God taught me a lot about myself and how prone to wickedness I am. If we believe that God created us -- knowing our ins and outs, why is it so challenging to trust Him and obey? I learned that the more you read the Bible, the desire and effort to trust and obey weighs in heavily. Afterall, this is His prescribed way to know the things of God without being guilty of merely "having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" 2 Timothy 3:5 Okay, so committing to anything is a discipline. I know it takes discipline to bring my flesh into submission. In order to behave like a decent person already means that there has to a standard of order/conduct which we deem descent. Otherwise, our behavior would be whatever we felt like it should be at any given time, right! But then that behavior would invoke someone else's behavior which could potentially be a repeating cycle of chaos and misunderstanding. How would we ever agree to handle a situation? So, reading the Bible is key. It lays out righteous behavior as well as wicked. While reading you will learn about the flesh and see several examples of those who lacked discipline as well as those who walked in it. The scriptures teach discipline. Intently reading the scripture strengthened my spirit and grew my confidence as an informed child of God walking uprightly before Him -- never men. "Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;" 1Thes 4:1 When I would spend a day out running errands and return home to be reminded that I hadn't spoken to one person about the goodness of God, it would grieve me a little bit because my heart was to do just that -- share biblical teachings that have grown my desire to live a sanctified and holy life unto God. Reading the Bible and better understanding who God is lit this fire in my belly. So, I purposely created an unassuming way to help me engage with others. I placed magnets on my car which causes readers to ponder about the things they choose to do. People pause at the convenient store, give thumbs ups, stare at signal lights, even ask for prayer, and sometimes cry while revealing their troubles. Becoming stronger in the faith is rewarding and reading the Bible grew me up immensely. There were questions that I just had to deal with. I had to read, reread, and reread at times. The need for better understanding became unquenchable. Becoming engrossed in the Bible and grappling with the text and searching for truth is how growth happens. We must wrestle with the text. It'll give you courage to go out and be who He called you to be, with knowledge of the deeper things of God and walking in discipline. So, reread the Bible and experience growth into a more mature follower of Christ. 2 Timothy 3 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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