The Blessing in Scripture Reading

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)

The Holy Scriptures are the pillar and ground of the truth, of both the knowledge of God and His wisdom. Everything we need to know about God and about life is in them. Divine wisdom informs us of the power of the Scriptures not only to impart wisdom but to perfect, to mature, a believer in his spiritual walk. This means that they are God's primary tool for the maturing of the believer. A man given to the Scriptures will be equipped for life and for good works in the Kingdom. If the lack of knowledge brings destruction, then the knowledge of Scripture builds.

The demonstration and manifestation of the power of the Kingdom and of the gospel in your life rely on your knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. All Scripture is God-breathed; in other words, the Holy Spirit is the true author of the book, and the scribes were only vessels for the Spirit. That is why we can trust the authority of the Scriptures. No book has ever been written like the Bible. Written over several thousand years, its coherence and integrity are unquestionably the work of the eternal Spirit, and even more astounding is the fact that we can see Christ in every book of the Scriptures.

There is a blessedness in reading and hearing the Scriptures, as the opening verse reveals. Reading and listening to the Bible consistently will release the blessing of God in your life. This is not to say that the blessing of reading the Word equals that of obeying it, but there is a blessing, and discipline in reading and listening to the Bible will improve your life. I would point out, however, that the greater blessing lies in reading with the mouth rather than only with the mind. Though there is an occasion for silent reading, you should endeavour to make your Bible reading audible. This will do several things. Over time it will sharpen your spiritual ears to hear the Spirit when He speaks to you. The tongue is a pen in the Spirit, so when you vocalise your reading of Scripture you are using your mouth to imprint the Word on your heart and mind. And it involves more of your senses, your eyes, ears and mouth, in taking the Word into yourself.

Here is a mystery that confirms what I am saying. Every word you have spoken, and every deed you have done, is written in a book that will be used for you or against you in the day of judgement. Better still, those who constantly meditate on the Lord through the Scriptures have their names recorded in a book called the book of remembrance (Malachi 4). The implications of reading and hearing Scripture, therefore, are far greater than we can ever assume.

Develop the discipline of reading and listening to the Scriptures. It will bless you, improve you and equip you for life and living, and ultimately perfect you, mature you, in the Lord. The sons of God must be serious about reading and hearing the Bible. It is not a suggestion but a command of the Spirit.