8. You’ll discover that some questions don’t need to be answered.
As for those questions that don’t seem to have clear-cut, direct answers, may we put them to rest in the knowledge that God alone understands all things and purposes everything according to his foreordained plans. Sections of books like Job, Isaiah, and Romans might lead us to ask, “Why?” But Scripture would simultaneously challenge us to submit our “why?” question to the established, known reality of who God is. What an opportunity as we traverse Scripture to humbly submit ourselves to God, who breathed out his Word so that we might know him better and learn to trust him more.
9. You’ll get more familiar with different genres.
The Bible contains 66 canonical books that are of various genres. Some books are historical, telling the story of Israel, the Law, and surrounding nations. Some are poetic, like the Psalms and Song of Solomon, and need to be read that way. Still other books are prophetic (Jeremiah and Ezekiel, for example), narrative (the four Gospels), and letters to the church (the Epistles). In committing to the entire Bible, you will gain an appreciation for its various genres, how each one fits into the whole, and how each should be read. We can ask the Holy Spirit for understanding as we dive into different genres, and we can also read commentaries to guide us.
10. You’ll gain a God-centered vision, rather than a self-centered one.
As sin-bent human beings, it is natural for our gaze to turn inward. It is all too easy to ask when reading Scripture, “What does this speak to me? What should I do? How should I behave?” While these probing questions certainly are not wrong to ask (we want to apply God’s Word!), we should not begin with them, nor should we be limited to them. Since the Bible is foremost about God’s glory, his salvation plan through Christ, and his heart-transforming work through his Spirit, our searching should primarily be Godward: “What does this passage tell me about God? Where do I see Christ pointed to in this chapter?” We see ourselves more clearly once we have known God more fully; so shouldn’t we start with him?
11. You’ll experience God’s faithfulness.
The more I read Scripture in its entirety, the more I see its themes, God’s promises, and his character at work throughout my days. God’s Word is full of his very great and precious promises, and it is alive, tuning our minds to heavenly realities, convicting us of sin, and reminding us of what is true. What a balm for our souls as we come up against full days, difficult people, doubts, and perplexing circumstances! Our God is faithful, from beginning to end of Scripture, and from our first day until our last. The Holy Spirit will use the Word of truth to tune us to kingdom-reality and keep us rooted in God’s faithful provision and person.
12. You’ll grow in prayer.
Prayer is perhaps one of the hardest spiritual disciplines. We struggle to know how to talk to God, what to say, and if he even hears us. So the best way to approach prayer is to begin with the Bible. As the Bible is God’s very Word to you and me, we seek him in its illumined pages, listen to his truth, submit ourselves to his commands, and rejoice in his work on our behalf! Then we let our reading and meditating propel our prayers. We can pray Scripture word-for-word, pray along the lines of it, or simply use it to confess sin, praise God, and ask for our requests. The more Scripture we know, the easier it will be to pray. Our prayers will also be more aligned with God’s will as we read the whole Bible, because we know that all Scripture is from him.
13. You’ll bear fruit.
Reading the whole of God’s Word is worth it because we receive the gift of hearing from our God from Genesis to Revelation. To know and to love him is always our primary objective. Second to that is the wonderful spiritual fruit that is borne within our hearts from soaking in Scripture as a consistent habit and discipline. God’s Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11). We do not read the Bible solely to be changed people (see point 10), but we do become changed people as we read the Bible. God effects his Word to renew our minds, conform us to the likeness of his Son, point out our sin, and guide us in his truth. What a glorious joy that God would impart his very being to us through this precious book of life!
14. You’ll be more prepared for evangelism.
Have you been asked questions about the Bible when spending time with people who don’t read it? This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but I find I’m more prepared to give an answer for the hope that I have in Jesus when I’m versed in Scripture, grasping the big story of the Bible, and able to paint it for the person I’m speaking to. Our Father supplies the words we are to speak from his own mouth—and his mouthpiece is often our Bibles!
15. You’ll be more prepared for discipleship.
I went through the Bible using the same plan as a dear friend, who is also in my small group. She and I enjoyed discussing what we were reading, pointing out new discoveries, and then applying it to our lives. There is a camaraderie when you read on the same plan or pace as a brother or sister in the Lord, and it affords grace-filled conversation about the gospel and how it shines through every page of Scripture.
