So we know we should study the Bible on a personal level… but how do we really do that? We could be following God sincerely for years and feel very stuck on this one thing. And sometimes being stuck on that one thing makes us feel away from God. And it’s a hard cycle to break.

But it can be broken! Finding how do actually study the Bible may come in all sorts of different ways (and we’ll look at several later on!). There isn’t one right way, but there are a few key things that are very helpful to get started in studying the Bible.

We know we should study the Bible. It’s something that’s been told to us time and time again. And we know that it’s important. That’s not the problem. The problem is honestly answering this question for ourselves: why?

We’re not asking why theoretically. And we’re not asking it to gain more knowledge. We need the reason to change who we are at our core.

Because until we know and believe the answer, it doesn’t matter if we think we should study the Bible. If there’s not a good reason that we truly believe matters, the beautiful book of the words from God will end up continuing to sit on the dusty shelf.

So…why?

There are so many reasons, but three cover the gist of it.

Jesus came to earth, born as we were. But why?

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2:17

When we read the story of Israel, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster. They are made many and blessed, they are enslaved in Egypt; they are freed, they wander in a wilderness; they get to the Promised Land, they follow the sinful ways of other nations; they get a worthy king, they are split in two and eventually go into exile in Babylon and Assyria; they get to go back home, they are placed under Roman rule.

It’s quite a history! But the one thing that remains true despite everything is that Israel knew that God was in control. Even if it was one of the worst times, they knew in the end God could save them.

Because he already had. Over and over again. And they knew what kept separating them from him was their sin.

It’s the story of the Gentiles, every other nation who didn’t follow God. The cycle was the same but there was no hope and no peace.

We were separated from God. And that’s why he came.

Jesus came to earth, born as we were. But why?

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

There are so many things vying for our attention. But in reality, anything that’s important (eternal) comes down to two. We have two options. 

One is to listen to the thief. Of course, he never portrays himself that way. Instead, he finagles himself into our lives like he belongs there, like he has some kind authority over us.

But Jesus calls him out for who he is: he is a thief. He is a murder. And he is a destroyer. 

Satan will never have our best interests at heart. He doesn’t care. All we are is one more soul that could be taken away from God. He steals us from our Creator. He kills the life that God has given us. He tears us apart and leaves us alone and lost. His game of pretend is sadly very good. But in the end, we will realize that it is fatal.

Thankfully, we have another choice. We aren’t stuck. Because our good shepherd stepped in. 

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 1 Timothy 1:15

Jesus came to earth, born as we were. But why?

Because no one else could save us.

He knew. God knew that there was only one option. We were filthy, wandering, helpless sinners that had several ways to one option: hell. That is what we are supposed to be. We in and of ourselves have no goodness that could even get us near enough to God to beg him for mercy.

And God knew. He knew his loving creation had messed up. The very first humans did and, make no mistake, every human since has, too, including us. The only way we would be able to be free was through him.

So in his love, God sent the world his only Son (John 3:16). And in his love, Jesus came to the world to save us, sinners.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

Jesus came to earth, born as we were. But why?

He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. These are words directly from Jesus to the people that got to hear the words of what we call the Sermon on the Mount. He had just finished telling them “blessed are the…” and “you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” And then he says this: don’t expect me to get rid of the Law and the Prophets.

Now for the Jews hearing him at the time, it meant something very different than it does to us today. For us, the Law and the Prophets are the Old Testament. The way people lived to know and honor God before Jesus all hung on the Law that God gave and the messages he sent them through the prophets.

For us, most seem antiquated, words from another time that don’t fit what we understand today. But Jesus wanted us to know– he didn’t come to get rid of it. He came to fulfill it.

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:4, 1-2

This is where it all comes together. We give thanks for our everyday blessings and we give thanks for our family/Family and friends around us. But we know that none of it means anything without our greatest blessing – our God.

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you…” Colossians 1:3

Although we’re thankful for the tangible things in our lives, we know that the more important things are our relationships– our family and friends.

It’s inevitable. We’ve heard over and over about the protagonist (or antagonist) in the story who wanted more and more and more things and lost sight of their family or friends and in the end was more alone than ever. And if the story has a good ending, the character figures it out before the end and is willing to risk losing all the material things just to get back the great relationships that might have already been theirs.

Family and chosen family in our friends are priceless. How many times has something happened, good or bad, that we couldn’t wait to let our loved ones know? Or when was the last time you wanted to be cared for or enjoy quality time and you naturally reached out to your family and friends? It’s a need within us!

God didn’t mean for us to be alone. He created us to have each other. But again, as Christians, we know this means so much more….

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

Thanksgiving is technically a noun. But when we break it apart, it’s very much an action: giving thanks.

It’s lovely that this time of year we think about giving thanks. We all know that it should be something we do year-round, but we also make a special time to think about it. The world around us pauses as we give thanks. But what is it that we’re thankful for?

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.” Hebrews 11:1-2

“For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” 1 Peter 1:8-9

Jesus was chosen to be our Passover Lamb so we could be God’s chosen people. He is precious because he is the only one who could deliver us, those who are precious to him. We are honored by him and will spend our forever honoring him.

"What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" "...love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:25-37

Jesus personally died to give us eternal life. We give him all of ourselves, as he gave all of himself. And we love our neighbor, because Jesus didn’t just come for just one kind of person– he came for all of us.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9

Though Jesus is unseen to us right now, we know without a doubt that he is more present than anyone else we do see. We love him with the deepest of all loves, a love that we know because he first loved us. And we are filled with a joy we can’t even describe, a joy filled with the glory of God.

“He drew near to the gate of the town...he had compassion on her... he came up and touched the bier... “ Luke 7:211-17

Jesus draws near to us even when we are at our worst. Jesus has compassion on all of us and each of us individually, no matter where we are. And Jesus has done everything to be able to touch us to give us life.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” Ephesians 2:4-5

We are alive because he is alive. We have grace because of God’s great love and mercy. And because of that, we are saved from an eternity of death to forever with the King– our Savior.

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion
.....
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... " 1 Peter 1:1-3

"“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people… to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham… the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”” Luke‬ ‭1:68-79‬ ‭

We are redeemed, bought back from hopelessness to being with God. We are receivers of the fulfilled covenant God made for ages past and fulfilled anew in Christ. And because of that, we are at peace, walking out of the dungeon of darkness and instead being guided into God’s perfect peace.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1:3-4

We were chosen before the world began. We are blameless because of what Christ has done. And because of that, in every sense of the word, we are blessed.

Psalm 62:1 says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence.” It’s a beautifully strong verse, a statement of assurance and ultimate faith. Not faith as the world sees it (hopeless, for the weak, whimsy belief). No, rather, it’s a faith that is immovable because of Who it’s in but can move mountains. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). We know without a doubt that what we hope for will come to pass. And what we hope for is God. We are convicted that though we cannot see him, we love him (1 Peter 1:8). He is worth waiting for! He is everything our souls desire, whether they know it or not. We are fashioned after our Creator. Home comes from being with him. So, no matter what comes in life—the crazy times, the joyful times, or the mundane times—our souls continue to wait in silence. For God alone.