by Jefferson David Tant<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Bible-Reading-2-300x200.jpg\")
Since God’s plan included the Scriptures, which were divinely inspired, it should be obvious that he had a purpose in mind for revealing his will for us so we could read and understand. So let us consider a few things that are revealed as to how we are profited by reading the Bible, which indicates that those who possess God’s written word are truly blessed people.<\/p>\n
Moses told Israel,<\/p>\n
“See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. … Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?<\/em>” (Deuteronomy 4:5-6, 8).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A roadmap and a Bible are similar as they both give directions for the journey.<\/p>\n
We can understand the mysteries.<\/h2>\n
“That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ<\/em>” (Ephesians 3:3-4).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Remember that Paul was a trained scholar, but he was not writing to other scholars. He was writing to ordinary, common people, and promised that they could read and come to the same understanding that he had. Does it take time and effort? Certainly so. Paul encouraged Timothy to be “diligent” in this matter. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:15).<\/p>\n
We can be prepared and ready to share the Gospel in an effort to save souls.<\/h2>\n
“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (I Peter 3:15)<\/p>\n
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee<\/em>” (Psalm 51:12-13).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The Great Commission is given to all Christians, not just to the apostles. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age<\/em>” (Matthew 28:19-20).<\/p>\n
Consider that Christ told the apostles to go make disciples, baptize them, and then teach them to do what he told the apostles to do – go make disciples! Too many times we leave that up to the preacher. Can you imagine the number of souls that would be converted if all Christians committed themselves to the Great Commission?<\/p>\n
Paul’s charge to Timothy goes to the third generation of teaching, “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:2).<\/p>\n
Knowledge of the Word helps us to avoid sin.<\/h2>\n
“With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:10-11) “The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip<\/em>” (Psalms 37:31).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In any endeavor of life, there are rules, regulations, directions. If you want to be an auto mechanic, you need to know what you are doing, and it takes some training to achieve that. By having knowledge, you can keep your customer from having his car towed back to your garage the day after you “repaired” it. And you don’t learn to be a scientist by just scanning through the textbook. By having knowledge, you can prevent blowing yourself up by mixing the wrong chemicals together in your lab. And if you want to be a Christian, you need to know the hazards to avoid that are along the pathway of life.<\/p>\n
There’s a song we sing titled “Teach Me Thy Way,” written by Benjamin Mansell Ramsey. The first stanza reads,<\/p>\n
“Teach me Thy Way, O Lord, Teach me Thy Way.
\nThy guiding grace afford – Teach me Thy Way.
\nHelp me to walk aright,
\nMore by faith, less by sight;
\nLead me with heav’nly light – Teach me Thy Way!”<\/blockquote>\nAnd just how does God teach us His way? By reading and studying His Word!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jefferson David Tant Since God’s plan included the Scriptures, which were divinely inspired, it should be obvious that he had a purpose in mind for revealing his will for us so we could read and understand. So let us consider a few things that are revealed as to how we are profited by reading…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1228,482],"class_list":["post-34614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-bible-reading","tag-learning"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16953,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-meant-by-nations-in-revelation\/","url_meta":{"origin":34614,"position":0},"title":"What is meant by “nations” in Revelation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 4, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What does Revelation 21:26 and Revelation 22:2 mean? What do the references to the nations mean? \"And they shall bring the glory and honor of the\u00a0nations\u00a0into it.\" \"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17615,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reading-the-bible-from-cover-to-cover\/","url_meta":{"origin":34614,"position":1},"title":"Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 2, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Abraham Smith We should read the Bible from cover to cover. We should want to know what the Lord said. Many of us, while acknowledging that the Bible is the word of God, have not read it in its entirety. We have been hindered from reading the Bible completely\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/Bible-Reading-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":35141,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/response-to-gays-reaction-to-ads-that-call-them-sinners\/","url_meta":{"origin":34614,"position":2},"title":"Response to Gays’ Reaction to Ads that Call Them Sinners","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Marsha Norris Sentry Magazine, September 1999 In a country that was founded on God and whose strength and morality were based on the Bible, we have lost our bearings. Today's culture, the feel-good, instant gratification-seeking society, is intent on bending and twisting the very foundation that once made us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63705,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":34614,"position":3},"title":"What Is the Law? (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 29, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 19:7-11 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Frequently, when people try to force an odd interpretation on the Scriptures or desire to ignore a portion of the Writings, they declare \u201cOh, that is part of the law, but I\u2019m not under law. I\u2019m under grace.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Seventh-Day Adventist divide the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53824,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-the-ten-commandments-separate-from-the-law-of-moses\/","url_meta":{"origin":34614,"position":4},"title":"Are the Ten Commandments separate from the Law of Moses?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a member of the Lord's church. I ask for your help in helping me answer the below response from two who believe that the Sabbath has not been abolished. 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