"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". Ps 119:105

 DAILY BIBLE READING

Reading: Psalm 119: 89-112

The Bible is like a deep well of clear water - a well so deep that you can never reach the bottom of it. You will never come to the time when you feel you know it all, and there is no more need to read the word of God.

The attitude of those mentioned in the quotes below is an example of how we all should receive the Word of God.

The Bible is indeed the word of God and should be the most precious thing in our lives, a great treasure. So this is one book that we should carefully read and learn from!

God is speaking directly to us from the Bible! His word brings us a wonderful hope of life through the gospel message.

The Bible And Jesus

Jesus, of course, had only the Old Testament, but knew it thoroughly! In every problem and difficulty, Jesus went straight to the Word of God for the answer. Just consider these examples:

1. When the Pharisees asked him whether it was right for a man to divorce his wife, Jesus went straight back to the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis. He said to them: "From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." You can read his full answer in Mark 10: 5-12.

2. When Jesus was alone in the wilderness, he was tempted to choose the easy way, instead obeying God's way. Jesus overcame these temptations by answering them with words from the Book of Deuteronomy, and each time he said: "It is written"

3. When soldiers came to arrest him, Jesus knew that his death would soon follow. He did not resist his arrest, for as he said, "the scriptures must be fulfilled" (Mark 14: 49). It was these Scriptures that foretold his death. Indeed throughout his life, Jesus was fulfilling all that was written about him in the Old Testament.

Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus

Peter teaches us to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3: 18). The only way that we can gain knowledge about the Lord Jesus is by reading the Bible. Each of the four gospel records give an account of what Jesus said and did. They record his life, the words he spoke, the miracles he performed, his death and his resurrection.

Other books in the New Testament help us to understand and appreciate all that Jesus accomplished for us by dying upon the cross. We learn how because of his sacrifice for us we can have hope of life in the Kingdom of God. They also teach us about how we should strive to live a new life in Christ.

However it is not possible to understand all these things without reading the Old Testament as well. The very first verse of the New Testament (Matthew 1:1) states "Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham". Thus we have to go back to the Old Testament in order to find out who these men were, and why Jesus is called their son.

Jesus read the Old Testament, which formed the Bible of His day. We also must read it, not just occasionally but rather we need to read the Bible every day. The apostle Paul tells us how vital the reading of the Scriptures is to our lives:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17)

Now God provides us with the food that our bodies need day by day. Jesus reminded his disciples about this when he said to them:

"Behold the fowls of the air: they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? " (Matthew 6: 26)

In the same way that we need the right balance of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals for healthy physical growth, our new life in Christ will only grow if it is fed. The only 'food' required for healthy spiritual growth is the Word of God.

It would be disastrous if we were to go without food for a week, and then try to make up by eating a whole week's food at once. In the same way, we need to feed our minds with God's Word every day, not in 'binges' and then having periods of going without. If we read the Bible every day, it will build up our understanding of the ways of God, and our knowledge about our Creator. If we do this we will grow in grace and knowledge.

Reading the whole of Scripture

Just as we need a balanced diet for our physical; well being, so we also need to have a balance in our reading of scripture. Most Bible students have favourite passages from the Bible that they read, for example the Psalms and the gospel records. But in order to gain an understanding about God's purpose with creation and how he works we need to read also the parts of the Bible that are maybe we can feel harder to understand. For example the historical accounts, the chapters that record long lists of people and places, the accounts of how the Israelites so often turned away from God. Many Bible students wonder sometimes why these accounts are there, but, as we have read in 2 Timothy 3: 16, all Scripture is profitable. These records in scripture are there for us to learn from and as a consequence make changes in our own lives. Other scriptures teach us about how we should live our lives in a way that pleases God - our Creator. It is no good reading the scriptures, if we do not also put the word of God into action in our lives, day by day, just as Jesus did.

From the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. If we were only to read a few chapters here and there, we would never come to understand some of the most important teachings of the Bible: the wickedness that is in man; the great holiness of God and the reverence and obedience He demands from us; the way by which we can be forgiven and reconciled to God; the great hope of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ.

Indeed Jesus said of God's word:

"It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matt 4v4

The Bible Companion

Many Bible students do their daily readings from a booklet known as The Bible Companion, This reading plan will take you through the Old Testament once, and the New Testament twice each year. It was written a long time ago and has helped many people all over the world to grow in their understanding of the Word of God. It is also helpful and encouraging to know that you are not alone in what you are reading.

Useful ideas for Bible reading

How to read

It is a good idea, when you sit down to do your daily Bible reading, to read the day's chapter straight though first and find out what it is all about. After you have read it, shut your eyes and say to yourself, "What have I just read?" Sometimes you will remember quite clearly; sometimes you will find it more difficult. Then you need to read the chapter through again.

Remember - every word of Scripture is important!

Other helps to Bible reading

If your Bible does not have marginal references or maps, or is set out in a different way, it does not matter - you still have the Word of God. However, for those who do have these extra helps in their Bibles, the following notes will help you to use them:

(a) Margin references

Some Bibles have margin references, and these can be a help. You will find a small letter or number by a word: and that letter or number can be found in the margin. Here it will give you a chapter and verse which is connected with what you have just read. If you look it up, it may help you to understand the chapter you are reading.

(b) Chapters and verses

Unlike most other books, the Bible is divided into verses as well as chapters. The chapters and verses were put in many hundreds of years after the Bible was completed, and are very helpful in finding passages you want to read or remember.

However they are not always helpful. Sometimes these artificial divisions cut a record in half, as in the record of the transfiguration in Matthew 16 and 17. The last verse of Chapter 16 reads:

"There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom."

Jesus is referring to the vision of the kingdom which was given to his disciples, Peter, James and John. Chapter 17 begins, "And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart" So when you begin to read Matthew 17, you need first to look back to the last verse of Chapter 16, to understand the context.

It is always a good idea to look at the "context" of the chapter you are reading, to see what went before and what comes afterwards.

(c) Use of maps

Some Bibles have maps at the back. When you read about an event happening at a certain place, find that place on your map. If you do this each time a town, river, mountain or lake is mentioned, you will come to know the land of Israel a little better. It will also be an aid to understanding the event or account that you are reading.

For example, when you read Luke 2 you will find the towns of Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem all mentioned. If you then look at the map at the back of your Bible, you will see that it is quite a long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but Bethlehem and Jerusalem are near to each other.

(D) Read your Bible prayerfully

Whenever you sit down to read your Bible, ask God for His help in understanding His Word. We read in Psalm 119:18 is a prayer:

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." [NIV]

We need God's help in understanding, and He is always willing to hear our prayers.

(E) Hearing and doing

God will teach us through His Word. But reading it is not enough. James tells us we must be "doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1: 22).

Jesus spoke of some who called him "Lord, Lord", but they did not obey his commands and thus would not be acceptable to Jesus: "Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" [NIV]

Jesus also told a parable about two classes of people styled sheep and goats. The 'sheep' had put the words of Jesus into practice in their lives and were accepted by him. The 'goats' had not and were rejected. Please read Matthew 25: 31-46 and discover for yourself what this parable is about.

Matthew 7:24-29 tells a parable about two men who both built a house. One built his house on a foundation of sand, the other on a foundation of rock. When the storms came, the house on sand was destroyed, the other survived. Thus Jesus said:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

(F) Come to the Bible with a humble and open mind

God has said:

"To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" (Isaiah 66: 2)

God will teach the man who comes to Him with a lowly mind, ready to learn: He will have nothing to do with the man who thinks he knows it all!

Summary

Read the Bible:

• Every day. Make sure your reading covers all the books of the Bible.

• With an open mind, letting it teach you.

• Carefully. Think over each verse and make sure you understand it.

• Prayerfully. Ask God to help you to understand what you need.

• With a humble mind, trying to find out how God wants you to live.

Study 2 Questions

These are for you to answer for yourself if you wish, or you can note the correct answer to each question and send via email to: Bible Light and Truth

Alternatively use our Bible Study Answer Form to send your answers via post. Please keep a copy of the questions and answers for reference.

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