Why should I read the Bible?

     Well folks it has been one busy week since I last posted. There were alot of preparations for the Box-A-Thon the youth group was having last weekend and then of course we had the big event, which went off without a hitch and I am so proud of the youth group. Then I received my 2 yr ministry course and have started that so it's been a busy time at my house, but that's OK, because all the busy time is all for God and I would rather be about the father's business than sitting idle and watching myself and my family wither away in sin. But enough of that and lets get to the meat of the matter.
     As I was sitting there the other night at the Box-A-Thon I had a thought come to me that many of us have probably thought and many Christians still ask to this day.WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE AND LEARN SCRIPTURE IF I AM NOT CALLED TO BE  A PREACHER? WHAT GOOD IS IT GOING TO DO ME IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH? These are valid questions that many a New Christian have asked themselves but more than that many an OLDER Christian asks themselves. To be honest I asked myself these questions once, and to my surprise I got an answer I wasn't expecting. My answer was "Who said you aren't called to preach? Where did you get the idea that you were called to do nothing? How do you know it won't do you any good in your everyday life? Haven't I called you to witness and spread the Gospel? How can you do that without reading and studying the word? But the one part of the answer that got me the most was when I heard the words of Jesus ringing in my ears ", It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
     I was hearing the Son of God, the King of Kings answering me himself as if to say "How do you plan on living if you don't know the word. How can you expect to handle the evil that Will be thrown at you, if you can't lean on the word of God for your lack of knowledge?" And I had to think wow that's a harsh statement, but a true one. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when tempted of Satan and here was was reminding me of the same thing. Now I don't know about you but I have always considered what Christ did to Satan upon that mountain pretty awesome. He showed us that her we have power in word of God to Rebuke Satan and put him in his place, so the last thin I wanted to realize is that I was being rebuked in the same manner. So I said OK Lord, what exactly should I do. And this time I heard the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
        OK I now  know that I need to study the word because it is the instructions of life. It is the spiritual food that we need to nourish our bodies so that when temptation comes at us we know how to handle it. But more so than that we need to know the scripture so that as we go out in our everyday lives, we can minister to those that we come in contact with. How many times have you been out with friends and a situation arises or you get into a conversation and it becomes obvious that what they need is for a divine intervention from the Throne room of God. That they need to feel the hand of the living God reach down and cradle them and say "it's OK I am here". Well the only way you will know that is if you have Studied the word of God so that you will have the words to speak and the knowledge to know how to handle things. Oh don't get me wrong, we are not perfect, and we are not going to automatically have the answer for everything or every situation that comes up. But if we have "studied" the word of God and Prayed for his Wisdom and Guidance in our lives then the Holy Spirit will Lead us to help. He will give us words to say and guess where those words will come from. That's right The Word of God.
     Another reason we should study the Word of God is because without it, we are open to every vain babbling that comes along. Which will do nothing but drag us farther from the Lord and cause dissension in not only our homes and relationships but in our Churches. That's right not studying the Word of God and seeking his wisdom leads to dissension, strife, arguments, physical fights. Now some of you are sitting there and thinking that Bill you have lost your mind, because there is no way that not reading the Word of God will cause fighting. Well I have to disagree with you. How many times have you ever got up from reading the Word of God, studying his commandments and praying to have a fist fight with your wife, brother, a stranger, or anyone? If the answer to that is anything other than Never, then you weren't actually studying the Word of God, because there is no way if you are truly reading the word of God that would happen. Now by the same token how many times have you said well I will read it later only  later be too upset to read the bible because someone has made you so mad, or you have had an argument with the spouse and neither one of you is speaking to the other. Or the Kids got you so worked up that all you want to do is sink into a recliner and watch TV or do something worse? 2 Timothy 2:16-17 says "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.Their teaching will spread like gangrene...." Now I have never actually seen a case of gangrene so I went online and looked up a few pictures of gangrene cases, and wish I hadn't done that now. But it seems that gangrene spreads pretty quickly in certain forms and can be life threatening very quickly, as in hours , in some cases. Well that got me to thinking that not reading the Word of God could be life threatening when mixed in with idle gossip I imagine, especially in today's world. How many senseless murders take place because this person said this and that person said that and an altercation took place and someone got shot or stabbed., only to find out later that what they thought so and so said was actually not what they said at all.
     What I am trying to get across and I am not sure if I am doing a good job of it brothers and sisters is that WE, as a people are called to go out into the world and tell others the Good new of Christ (Mark 16:15 ... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.). How can we do that without studying the Word  of God and seeking his face in Prayer? We can't if you ask me. Brothers and Sisters I ask you one question.......Have you studied enough of the Word and sought the face of god enough that if the situation arises that you need to help someone find Christ this day you could? I leave you with that thought and I once again say if you need me to pray with you, for you or to try and answer any question for you, please feel free to contact me at cntrydadof3@gmail.com and put the words "Blog Question"in the title of the email. God bless all of you and may the Lord use you mightily for his Kingdom.

   In Christ's Love,
       Bill Roy