Why should I read the Word of God?

Sometimes it worries me that a lot of Christians aren't reading the Word of God, let alone studying it. This can be detected particularly by a believer's speech, actions, behaviour and their usefulness and effectiveness to God and within a local church. Of course a lack of time spent with the Word will also have a negative impact on our testimony outwardly as well. I include myself in this challenge and so I read through Psalm 119 and noticed a series of fundamental reasons why ANY and ALL believers should be reading the Word of God as much as possible. These are just a few to challenge us with, there are many more I assure you!

1. IT CAN KEEP US FROM SIN (By keeping God's Word close to our hearts and obeying it. So important in today's world - v9-11)
2. IT HAS A CLEANSING EFFECT ON OUR LIVES (v9. Of course, obedience to God's Word in the first place will keep us from sin, see point 1 above.)
3. IT SHOWS US 'WHERE WE ARE' (Light for our feet, or our current condition is my particular application here. We may not like it but as we read the Word, the Holy Spirit will show us what is wrong in our lives, and what is right according to His Word - v105)
4. IT SHOWS US 'WHERE SHOULD GO' (Guidance for our pathway - If we are reading it diligently for guidance v105)
5. IT GIVES LIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING TO THE SIMPLE (Amazingly profound but simple truths revealed to those who are newly converted perhaps - v130)
6. IT GIVES US SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING (Growth and development for Christians, and let's face it, we all need that! - v98-100)
7. IT WILL HELP US THROUGH BAD TIMES (Never forsake reading the Word of God, no matter your circumstances, for God will bring you through and reveal more of himself to you through His Word. Also it stands us in good stead for the future, as believers who have spent time with God's Word will be able to take encouragement and comfort from it, even when they are no longer able to read it perhaps - v92-93)
8. IT GIVES US JOY AND PEACE (Do you know any 'joyless' Christians? Maybe this is why! Reading the Word and hearing God's voice speak to us brings joy! v162 and 165)
9. IT GIVES US HOPE (In Christ, a better thing that this world cannot give us! v81, 114, 147, 74)
10. IT AFFECTS WHAT COMES OUT OF OUR MOUTH (Ok I have perhaps broadened the application here, but I think the lesson still holds true. If we regularly read and meditate upon the Word of God, our speech will be changed or affected for good. I mean this in all senses - our day to day speech with our fellow men, our spiritual conversation with our fellow believers,and perhaps mostly our praise and worship that we present to God - v13)

Of course hand in hand in hand with reading and meditating on the Word comes obedience to it, and further in depth study of course!

I hope these simple scriptures and thoughts will be of benefit to us all as we seek to grow and develop for God day by day.

Yours in Him, Mark