Must We Study the Bible?

This sounds like a stupid question. Even so, some Christians feel it's too hard even to read the scriptures. They'd rather let the preacher do all the work or read a devotional each morning or evening.

Scripture itself has plenty to say about study. One early mention of this was in Nehemiah 8:8 (KJV). When the nation of Israel returned from Babylon where they were taken captive, the leaders decided to re-acquaint the people with the Book of the Law.   "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

Earlier on, Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt. Before he died, he spoke to the assembly all the things which God had him write down. Deuteronomy 30:10 and 11 (BBE) reads, "If you give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his orders and his laws which are recorded in this book of the law, and turning to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For these orders which I have given you today are not strange and secret, and are not far away."

King David also loved the Book of the Law. In fact, he memorized it. Psalms 119:11 (BBE) states, "I have kept your sayings secretly in my heart, so that I might do no sin against you."

We see as well that studying was important in the New Testament. Paul admonished in 2 Timothy 2:15 (BBE) to, "Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way."

We should also be like the people in the town of Beroea. Acts 17:11 (BBE) records, "Now these were more noble than the Jews of Thessalonica, for they gave serious attention to the word, searching in the holy Writings every day, to see if these things were so.

We also need to know what the scriptures say so we won't be confused by liars preaching false doctrines. Ephesians 4:14 and 15 (BBE), in reference to growing more Christ-like, says, "So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error; But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ;"

There is so much more I could write about this vast topic. It'll be part of my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? After all, why should folks call themselves Christians but have no desire to learn about their Lord and Master who bought them from their slavery to sin?

On Saturday, I'll post a song about a delusional man who felt convinced that he was Jesus.