Knowing God through His Word

John Quincy Adams said: “I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once a year. My custom is to read four or five chapters every morning immediately after rising from my bed. It employs about an hour of my time, and seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day.^[1]

How about you? What is your custom? Do you read the Bible every morning? You should start everyday with God’s Word. You might ask, why should I read the Bible? For starters you should read the Bible to know the truth. 

John 17:17 tells us, “Sanctify them by the truth: your word is truth.” The Bible is truth, and it cannot fail. It seems like everyone is searching for truth, why? Because society doesn’t always give us the truth, it gives us opinions instead. The Bible does not do that for it is truth. Jesus said Himself that “Scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35) Jesus believed the Old Testament was the Word of God, six times in the book of Matthew Jesus replied to those who were questioning Him “Have you not read…?” When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, Jesus trusted the Word of God, it was His authority. 

We also read Scripture to help us grow in knowledge. Paul tells us in Romans 15:4 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (NKJV) Did you catch that? Things that were written are for our learning, or our knowledge. How many times have we heard and experienced that history repeats itself? Can we learn lessons from other people’s stories and lives? Of course. The Bible is full of principles that can help us live better lives today. We can look into the past and realize that if we follow the same course, we will reap the same results. 

Another reason to read your Bibles, is that it will transform you. Do you want to be transformed? Are tired of your everyday life? Do you wish for a change?

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Just as the sun and rain effect the earth so will the truth of God’s Word effect our heart. When we are willing to receive His Word, we will be filled with knowledge and love that it will transform our life. 

We need to set aside a time for Bible study and devotions. Spend some of that time in prayer and praise, then just sit for a while and listen. When we sit in silence, we may just hear the voice of God. He may tell us we need to do something in order for us to grow spiritually, or maybe a name will be brought to our mind to either call, visit, or pray for. 

Today the Bible is the most widely published of all books ever written. The Bible may be on our bookshelves, iPhone, iPad, and computer, but it doesn’t do any good if it is not read. In short, our attitude for the Bible reflects our attitude for Jesus. So may I suggest that we open God’s Word and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us in wisdom and understanding. 

A professor at UT Chattanooga did as he always did and handed out the syllabus for his music seminar class; the students did what students typically do, and they ignored the syllabus entirely. What they didn’t know is that their teacher had put into the syllabus directions that, if followed, would have led them to a locker containing a $50 bill. Even though the teacher told them that they needed to read the syllabus, the $50 was still there at the end of the semester, unclaimed, simply because no one bothered to read the syllabus. 

Hasn’t God done the same thing? He left us a document containing about three-quarters of a million words in 66 books, and He encouraged us to read it. Pretty straightforward. He called the Bible a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). He told us that His word is sweet, that it’s like bread—necessary food—and that it’s living, powerful, and will accomplish what God says it will do. 

After all of that, why would we ignore it? The Word of God will change you, transform you, and make a new person out of you. 

We can understand students not reading a syllabus, and all they missed out on $50. But by not reading the Word of God, you risk harming yourself and ultimately missing out on everlasting life. That’s too high a price to pay.