Spiritual Growth

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Published 9:00 am on July 06, 2009

Why Should I Study the Bible?

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By Andy Deane

Every house needs to be constructed on a solid foundation, if it is going to stand strong during adverse conditions.  So too, Christians who build their lives upon the solid rock of God’s Word, will have the strength needed to weather all of life’s storms. The following contains useful helps and basic information that are the essential building blocks for Christians who desire to study God’s Word

Imagine this hypothetical situation: You are asked to sift several tons of sand from one pile to another, by spooning it through a hand-held strainer. Without a doubt you would consider that kind of a task to be futile and boring. However, what if you were told that while doing this you were guaranteed to find a gold nugget every hour, and as you continued sifting through the pile you would begin finding them every minute. In addition, whatever treasure you found would be yours to keep. No longer would the task seem futile or boring. The pile of sand would take on a whole new meaning to you because of the value that was hidden within. The same analogy can be made of Bible study. With very little effort, great riches are ours to discover and keep, as we carefully sift through the Word of God each day. With access to such great spiritual treasure, we can relate to the words the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:162.

Gold, Diamonds, and Emeralds

Exactly what kind of treasure can we expect to find in the Bible? I’ve heard Psalm 19:7-10 rephrased by someone this way: “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is 24-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.” That is my prayer for everyone who reads this book. May you become skilled at discovering God’s great treasure, and be excited by the spiritual riches that are yours to keep, as you learn to study the Bible.

Eight Benefits of Studying the Word

1. It assures us of salvation - 1 John 5:13
2. It cleanses us from sin - John 15:3 / John 17:17
3. It gives peace - John 16:33
4. It brings joy - John 15:11
5. It guides our decisions - Psalm 119:105
6. It helps us in prayer - John 15:7
7. It strengthens - 1 John 2:14
8. It leads to success - Joshua 1:8

The Bible Answers Life’s Biggest Questions
In addition to discovering the richness of our Creator, studying the Bible also helps us to learn more about ourselves, and the world in which we live. Answers to all of life’s biggest questions are found in God’s Word.

Questions such as:
- Who am I?
- Where am I going?
- Why am I here?
- What should I do with my life?
- Where did I come from?
- What’s my relationship to God?

The Bible answers all of these questions and many more. From cover to cover, the Bible is God’s revelation to us.

Who Should Study the Bible?
Every Christian should study the Bible. We all need God’s wisdom no matter what season of life we are in. This little poem, written by a Baptist church in Indiana, answers the question well:

The young—to learn how to live; the old—to know how to die
The ignorant—for wisdom; the learned—for humility
The rich—for compassion; the poor—for comfort
The dreamer—for enchantment; the practical—for counsel
The weak—for strength; the strong—for direction
The haughty—for warning; the humble—for exaltation
The troubled—for peace; the sinner—for salvation
The doubting—for assurance; all Christians—for guidance

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