Bible Devotions for Living

Are you reading the Bible regularly?

In the Gospels, Jesus asks people a variation of this question about a dozen times:

Haven’t you read this Scripture … (Mk 12:10)

… haven’t you read in the book of Moses … (Mk 12:26)

Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God (Mt 22:31)

Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your scripture … (Jn 10:34)

Then He began to teach them: “Is it not written … (Mk 11:17)

His repetition shows just how important it is to read and know His Word. In fact, He expects you to know and be familiar with it! It is God’s Word to you and contains the most crucial answers for life and how to live it well.

The Bible is Your Spiritual Fuel

Think about what happens if you don’t eat. You get run down, tired, cranky, and open yourself up to sickness.

Well, the Bible is food for your spirit, mind, and emotions and you need to consume it every day to be a healthy and growing Christian. Without that daily nourishment, you’ll become spiritually weak and vulnerable to all sorts of problems. Look at a few of the ways Scripture will nourish you:

• It keeps you from being deceived (Mark 12:24).
• It’s a weapon against the enemy (Ephesians 6:17).
• It gives you clear vision (Psalm 119:105), wisdom (Psalm 19:7), understanding (Ps 119:130), peace (Psalm 119:165), guidance (Ps 119:11).
• It builds your faith (Romans 10:17), encourages (Romans 15:4), warns (Ps 19:11).

You Need to Discipline Yourself to Read Bible Every Day

Since reading Scripture is so important to your spiritual strength and growth, the devil will do everything he can to distract you from reading it. Don’t let him stop you.

Clear your calendar for a bit every day. If you can’t sit down and read it, listen to it! You can listen in the car on the way to work or while doing chores around the house.

Even simply reading one verse or a paragraph and thinking about it all day is helpful. Your meal doesn’t have to be massive; it just must be nourishing. Let it soak in, and it will transform your life. As Psalm 1:2-3 says, the one who meditates on God’s law constantly is like a tree planted by streams of water—they prosper.

Be hungry to hear God’s Word like Cornelius and his family (Acts 10:24-33). Read your Bible … you are only hurting yourself by not doing it.

Think about it

Are you reading, or listening to, the Bible daily?

What is stopping you? Are you too busy, too lazy, too bored, or do you think it’s unimportant?

Are you just reading the words or are you learning and apply it?

Do you think about it throughout the day to drive it deep into your heart and mind?

Do you honor, revere, and listen to it as if the Almighty were speaking it to you face to face?

What should you do to change (Your habits, your attitude)?

Remember:

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16)

Read your Bible. You are only hurting yourself by not doing it.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17 – ESV)

Jesus told them, “Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mk 12:24)

⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. ⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts … ¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. (Ps 119:98-100, 104)

² Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Ps 1:2-3)