The Bible is unlike any other book. It was written by 40 authors chosen by God, over a period of around 1,500 years. Yet, it displays remarkable unity and consistency.

For many years, most people did not even have the Bible in their own language (and even today, some don’t). So being able to read the Bible is a rare and priceless treasure.

So, what is the Bible about?

In the Old Testament, we see God creating the universe and putting mankind on the earth. We see the tragedy of Adam’s fall and the rise of the nation of Israel. We see Israel’s failure to faithfully follow God and accept how much they need a Redeemer.

In the Gospels and Acts, that Redeemer arrives – we see and hear what the Lord Jesus did here on earth and learn the way of salvation. The church is born and the gospel spreads.

In the Epistles, we receive clear instructions for living as Christ’s followers as part of His body.

In Revelation, we see how God will bring an end to history. We eagerly anticipate Jesus’ final redemption of His people and the beginning of a glorious eternity in God’s presence.

From beginning to end, the Bible is all about Jesus. As he said in Hebrews 10:7, “And so, my God, I have come to do what you want, as the Scriptures say.”

Knowing all this should make us excited to spend time reading the Bible. And we should not come to it casually as if it were a novel or a magazine. We approach God’s word with purpose, keeping these principles in mind:

1. Read it Regularly

Just as we need food every day to feed our physical bodies, reading the Bible every day is like food for our spiritual lives.

Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.”

How do we live a fruitful life? By staying joined to Jesus. And we stay joined to Jesus through prayer, and by reading His word.

2. Read it for Obedience and Direction

We don’t read the Bible just to gain information, but much more! We read it to see how God is directing us to live. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.”

We should have the attitude of young Samuel, when he was first called by God, “‘I’m listening,’ Samuel answered. ‘What do you want me to do?’” (1 Samuel 3:10).

When you read the Bible, look for promises to hold on to; commands to follow; and sins or attitudes to turn away from — all in the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Remember what you read

It’s hard for us to remember everything we read. Just looking at something only one time does not usually make it stay on our mind.

So when you open the Bible, it’s good to have a notebook or a journal. When you see something important, or feel that God is telling you something, write it down. If you want to respond in prayer to God’s word, you can write that too.

Even if you don’t have a notebook, you can highlight or underline verses right in your Bible.

Any of these practices will make it easier for you go back and meditate on the things that God is showing you from His word.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.”

It is a great privilege to have God’s holy Word revealed to us, and to let it do its work in our lives. Even when it may be uncomfortable or even painful at times.