God’s Word is plentifully available in the West and within the church, yet too often the Bibles within believers’ reach go unread and unstudied, gathering dust on shelves or taking up space as seldom-opened apps on mobile devices.
No matter if a Christian is new to faith or has been following Christ for years, there are common reasons people cite for not reading the Bible, including:
- “I don’t understand how the Bible applies to my life.”
- “I’ve tried, but I just don’t know how.”
- “Isn’t studying the Bible the pastor’s job?”
- “I just don’t have time.”
- “I just don’t have a desire to study God’s Word.
If we don’t dig in and study the Bible for ourselves, we will miss out on the deep joys of personal discovery as we pursue God in his Word. God wants all of his children, not just pastors, to personally experience a love relationship with him through his Word.
The book of Psalms begins with these words:
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (1:1–3)
How to Start Bible Study
So where do you start? My first encouragement is for you to identify a daily Bible reading plan. Instead of just opening the Bible to different places on different days, I strongly encourage you to find an intentional way to walk through all of God’s Word. Multitudes of options exist that are used by other followers of Jesus, or you can create one on your own.
I would also encourage you to get a good Study Bible that uses an accurate translation of Scripture. A Study Bible contains notes for different verses that help you understand the context and meaning of what you’re reading. It’s wise for us to receive counsel from brothers and sisters in Christ who have studied the history, culture, and original languages of the Bible far more in-depth than we have.
Regardless of which Bible translation or reading plan you might use, set aside a regular time in your day, or multiple times in your day (morning and evening, as Psalm 1:2 talks about), to meditate on God’s Word.
Let Go of Excuses
I invite you to decide today to let go of any excuse for not studying the Bible. Your Creator loves you so much that he has supernaturally inspired his Word to show you who he is and how you can experience abundant, eternal life in relationship with him. His Word is unlike anything else in the world: It is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true, righteous, more valuable than millions of dollars, and more satisfying than the finest of foods.
We live in a fallen world full of unfulfilled desires, unmet expectations, broken relationships, hollow pursuits, fleeting pleasures, pain, sorrow, anxiety, depression, despair, fear, and discouragement. Don’t you want to experience everlasting joy, life-changing awe, otherworldly wisdom, death-defying courage, never-ending peace, and indescribable love? Then study the Word of the One who guarantees you all of this reward and more when you hear and obey him. It’s time to realize that your life here on earth—and for all of eternity—depends on listening and responding to God’s Word.
David Platt
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder of Radical, an organization that makes Jesus known among the nations. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back. David lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children. His latest book, How to Read the Bible: A Simple Guide to Deeper Intimacy with God, provides the step-by-step tools and insights you need to explore Scripture with greater clarity and purpose.
