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12 Promises for Perseverance in Bible Reading

As Christians, we know that without taking in God’s word, our faith will become anemic, shallow and weak. And yet, so often, we neglect the precious gift of God’s word in our daily lives.

This is a simple list meant to help motivate souls-prone-to-wander to see that giving ourselves to God’s word in 2016 will be worth it—one reason for every month you might be tempted to give up.

1. The Bible enables us to know and love Jesus more.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me [Jesus].” (John 5:39)

The Bible is not ultimate. Jesus, the Word of God incarnate, is ultimate. But the Bible is the place where we know for certain that we can see and savor Christ each day. The Old Testament writings promise him and point toward him. The Gospels show us his ministry here on earth leading to his death and resurrection. The letters show us the work he continues to do by his Spirit through his church, which is his body.

There is nothing and no one more valuable for you to know and love in 2016 than Jesus, and there is nowhere you’re more likely to encounter him than in this Book.

2. The Bible gives us hope in God no matter what is happening in our lives.

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

The Bible is the foundation under our feet that gives us the encouragement we need to remain hopeful in Christ through times of depression and suffering. We have a God who wrote a Book so that we might be people with hope. We should take advantage of that precious gift.

3. The Bible leads us to supreme happiness in God.

Blessed [this means happy!] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1–2)

God has revealed himself in his word. In the Bible, discover the path of life that leads us to “fullness of joy” and “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

The happiness the Bible offers us is as unchanging and durable as the God who wrote it and who is himself our greatest Treasure.

4. The Bible arms us to kill our sin by the Spirit of God.

If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

The word of God is the sword in the hands of the Spirit of God. The sword goes to work to hack up sin in our life that keeps us from God. The sword pierces through bone and marrow to reveal our hearts. With sin removed and cleansed, we can see Christ more fully and find greater holiness and happiness.