The Bible gives four methods by which we can understand the Scriptures.

The first is found in 1 Corinthians 2:10-14. As believers, we possess the Holy Spirit within us. He knows the very thoughts of God and reveals them to us. Those without the Spirit think the things of God are foolish.

2 Timothy 2:15 is where we find the second method. The International Standard Version puts it like this: ". . . [handle] the word of truth with precision." Study the Word and know what it means. Don't take lightly the responsibility of right teachings, but examine what God has to say.

The next is in Acts 17:2. Paul reasoned with the Jews from their own Scriptures, showing them that Jesus is the Messiah. We are to use our heads to apply the Bible.

Finally, Acts 8:27-35 gives an example of God's enlisting other people to reveal the Scriptures. The Ethiopian eunuch was confused by the words of the prophet Isaiah until Philip came as an instrument of God to explain the gospel.

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Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." (John 4:31-34, ESV)

This dialogue takes place after Jesus had talked with the Samaritan woman at the well. She had been taken aback with His knowledge of her life and knew that He was the Messiah, as He said. She could not help but tell everyone.

The people of the city flocked to Jesus upon hearing what the woman had to say. No doubt, it was time for a spiritual harvest. How exhilarating!

Meanwhile, Jesus' disciples were worried about whether He'd eaten. Jesus did not belittle them, but explained there was something much more important going on: the reaping of souls.

Physical food can never feed one the way spiritual food can! Jesus said His food was to do the desire of the One Who sent Him and to accomplish His work. When was the last time you ran on spiritual food? What were you doing? What were the results of doing the work of God?

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How should a Christian react if he is the object of another's hate? We may feel helpless or perhaps even tempted to seek retribution. Luke 6:27-28 offers a better way.

But I say to you who hear,

• love your enemies,
• do good to those who hate you,
• bless those who curse you,
• pray for those who mistreat you. (NASB)

Have you ever been hated by someone? How did it make you feel?
Do you know of anyone who hates you right now? Take time to enact the counsel of the Word of God. If you have let that person's hate get the best of you, pray for a right attitude toward him.

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Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2:1-4, NKJV)

Use the passage provided in the Bible version of your choice to answer the following questions:

Who first spoke the message of the Scriptures?
Who confirmed the message?
What accompanied the message?
What corroborated the message?

Here is a little different translation that might make it easier to answer:

That is why we must hold on all the more firmly to the truths we have heard, so that we will not be carried away. The message given to our ancestors by the angels was shown to be true, and those who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment they deserved. How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation? The Lord himself first announced this salvation, and those who heard him proved to us that it is true. At the same time God added his witness to theirs by performing all kinds of miracles and wonders and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4, Good News Translation)

Okay, if you haven't answered the questions yet, go back and do so.
Still with us? Read on. . . We see that we can trust the Scriptures because God spoke them first, they were confirmed by the hearers, and their message was accompanied by signs and wonders, and corroborated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Now, look again at Hebrews 2:1. Based on this verse, why is it important to read the Bible?
Have you ever drifted away? Were you reading the Bible regularly at that time? If so, what was your relationship with God like?

If you aren't in the Word regularly, commit or renew your commitment to doing so today.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION, SECOND EDITION, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes; (Psalm 19:7-8)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

As you read the verses above, take note of the words used to describe Scripture. Write down each of them. Beside them write down the benefits of Scripture given in these verses. (Example: perfect--revives the soul) Take a moment to record several ways these verses have proved true in your own life.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Read Psalm 146.

In Psalm 146 is illustrated the utter impotence of man by extolling the power and mercy of the Lord. It urges not to put hope in man, even powerful people.

I wonder, though, whether in pursuing this attitude one might find himself ignoring the God-given value of an individual, especially one he does not know.

Have you ever been guilty of putting hope in man or neglecting to value someone in whom others put their hope?

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Look up the following passages and record the names Scripture gives itself. You can use the new Search the Bible tool to see the references in several versions and even look at commentary and other notes.

Romans 1:2; Romans 3:2; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:18; James 1:21-23

Think about what each title says to you about the Scriptures. Using commentaries or any other applicable references, look further into any of them that are of particular interest to you.

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But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.(2 Peter 2:1, NASB)

Let there be no doubt: there are false teachers in the Church. Maybe even in your church. How can you equip yourself against them? Read the Word! Not just at church, but throughout the week as well.

Is there any better time of the year than January to commit to being in the Word daily? Any time is a good time, but the resolutions of January seem to provide the best momentum for any life change. There is no shortage of ways to incorporate Bible reading or study into your life. Build it into another part of your daily routine, such as eating or preparing for bed. If you spend a lot of time commuting, check out an audio Bible or tune into a Christian radio station for some solid teaching. Sign up for an email devotional or set your homepage to a Christian website that is updated daily with enriching content.

Maybe you've decided this is the year you're going to read the whole Bible. That's great! There are some Bibles dedicated to just this endeavor.

One Year Bibles have been around more than a decade. They have a reading (usually from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs) for every day of the year. There are also Chronological One Year Bibles which will allow you to read the Bible in the order the events occurred. For instance, 1 & 2 Chronicles are interspersed with their counterparts elsewhere in the History books, and the Gospels are aligned with each other. (The links above also contain additional Bibles in their respective categories.)

A couple brand new Bibles focus on reading the Bible in an even smaller time frame to get you familiar with the Bible as a whole, allowing you to see how the Scriptures complement each other. Zondervan has a curriculum devoted to encouraging congregations and small groups to read The Bible in 90 Days . Taking about an hour each day to read 12 pages at a time, readers can get through the entire Bible cover to cover in about three months.

One of the newest English translations, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, is finally available in a unique study Bible: The HCSB Light Speed Study Bible . Using techniques that all students should be taught, the Bible is specially formatted to streamline reading. Once the techniques have been mastered, one could conceivably read every word of the Bible in 24 hours or less.

You don't have to buy a new Bible just to read it through, though. Look for daily Bible reading plans (also called tracts) and then stick to it! There is no end to the benefits of reading the Word of God regularly.

Whether you like to read your Bible one passage at a time or are ready to speed-read through it, just be sure you're in the Word; for it is only in knowing the Word that you can defend yourself against the false teachers of which the Bible warns us.

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