It has been documented that many believers (i.e., Christians) don’t support their local churches financially, don’t attend church frequently, don’t share the gospel of Christ, let alone read their Bibles.
This article aims to encourage believers to be responsible stewards of Scripture. Here are a number of reasons why daily devotion of Scripture is important. Remember, we meet God in His Word.
- Scripture teaches us how to generate true and proper worship of God (John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.”). The Bible encourages private and corporate worship in the church. A believer is not called to become a lone ranger, but called into a community of faith. To use a metaphor, the believer is like a tree that continuously grows in the faith, he or she is to progressively develop a level of spiritual maturity (Eph.5:19-21, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”).
- The Bible teaches that a person can have eternal life with God forever (John 20:31, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”)
- His Sacred Word reminds sinners (individuals who are separated from fellowship with God), how to escape the wrath to come (2 Thess.1:8, “in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus). Though many unbelievers ridicule and scorn Scripture, there will be a Day of Judgment for them. God does not look over sin; in due time, justice will be served.
- Scripture encourages believers to share the gospel, make disciples, and love one another (Matt.28:18-20; Eph.5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us….”).
- His Word provides the healthy doctrines needed for our understanding of Father, Son, the Holy Spirit (i.e., Trinity), and the absolute authority of God (John 7:17, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”). It provides a guide to live a discernable lifestyle of faith (2 Peter 1:5, “For this reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge.”), and promotes Christian growth (2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.”)
In the end, following Christ demands strict personal discipline. If we want to grow and become mature believers, this is good advice to follow. This entails living a life that brings glory to God, being responsible stewards of Scripture, and loving one another.
George L. Arroyo