A Most Excellent Habit

Habits, both good and bad, are developed over time, through repetition. We do things over and over until it seems unnatural for us not to do them. The key to a successful life is to cultivate good habits. What we do from day to day determines the course our lives will take. In this article I would like to encourage you to develop a most excellent habit. The habit of which I speak is that of daily, consistent Bible reading. By taking just a few minutes each day to read the Scriptures, you can improve your life and affect, positively, the lives of those around you. Let us look at three areas of life which can be improved through daily Bible reading.

Personal Life

Bible study first and foremost improves your personal life. It develops your faith in God and helps you to handle your problems in an appropriate way. How is this? The Psalmist exclaimed: "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple," (Psalm 119:130). By increasing your knowledge of God through the reading of His word, you become better able to see things clearly and make reasonable decisions. No one should be in the dark when we have the source of light right before us. Through increased understanding we can increase our faith in God. Notice the words of Paul regarding faith, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," (Rom. 10:17). Is your faith weak? Do you feel unsure about the God you serve? Read the Scriptures for they are the source of true faith. Some feel that Scripture reading is not profitable for them because they forget so much of what they have read. This is true for most people. It is like washing your car. You don't collect much water when you wash it, but you end up with a clean car. While reading the Bible your mind is being cleansed of evil thoughts and being purged of the wicked influences of the world. Paul the apostle exhorts us to think or meditate on good things (Ph. 4:8).

Family Life

Whenever you start to improve yourself, it inevitably effects your family. When we consider our families, especially the children, we know that our example is the greatest teacher they will ever have. Problems with the youth of today can be directly attributed to a failure in the home. When people take God out of their homes, Satan moves in and goes to work. How can I protect my family? What can I do to be sure that the emphasis in my home is on God? By reading the Bible daily your family will begin to see a difference in your life. Perhaps they will know that you have started to read the Bible as a part of your daily routine. This example will burn into their minds the importance of the word of God. And this example might encourage them to do just as you have done. Moses stressed the importance of having God in the home as he exhorted the children of Israel: "And these words which I command you shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up," (Deut. 6:6,7). As we cannot possibly teach what we do not know, a firsthand knowledge of the Scriptures is essential to accomplishing this task.

Community Life

As your personal and your family life begins to undergo positive changes, people in the community will begin to notice. Hereby the influence you have upon others will improve. Christianity is not designed to change the world through the dynamite of physical revolution, but rather through the quiet influence of people who have dedicated themselves to Christ and to His cause. Jesus illustrated this point by a parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened" (Matt. 13:33). The power of Christianity is shown in an individual living for Christ in the midst of a heathen world. As you grow through the study of God's word, people will notice. They may act differently around you. One who frequently uses foul language may stop when you are present. In this way the world around you will have been improved, making it a better place for you and your family to live in. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

Daily Bible reading certainly has many benefits which have not been fully discussed here. The Bible is composed of 66 books divided into 1,189 chapters. It is a tall order to read through it all, but it can be easily accomplished if you are willing to devote about 20 minutes per day. A very simple way to read through the Bible is to read 4 chapters per day in the New Testament and 4 per day in the Old. With this plan you will read through the Old Testament 1.5 times in a year and through the New Testament 5.5 times. With only 20 minutes per day you can have firsthand knowledge of the God in whose image you are made. Consider the cumulative effect of a program like this. In less time than it takes to watch the news you can learn of God. You can know salvation (I John 2:5). And you can receive the wisdom that descends from above (Js. 3:17). What a excellent habit to prepare yourself for now and for eternity.