16. You’ll see how God’s Word is consistently relevant.
Psalm 119:89 says that God’s Word is firmly fixed in the heavens. It is consistently relevant and never changes—what phenomenal blessing we have in our firm foundation! As you read from book to book and genre to genre, you’ll be amazed by how consistent, thorough, and true the whole Bible is. As the times and culture change, we will be more convinced than ever of how steadfast, trustworthy, and effective God’s Word is. We will run to him through our Bibles for shelter, help, and wisdom, always finding it steadfast and true.
17. You’ll be increasingly transformed into the image of Jesus.
Reading the Bible comes with a warning: We miss the point if it merely puffs us up with knowledge and bolsters our intellect. As J. I. Packer says in his book Knowing God, it is possible to know a lot about God, but not to know him. Yet, if we open God’s Word for the purpose of seeking the Lord, we will know him better and be increasingly transformed into the image of his Son. This happens one second at a time, one day at a time, but God will surely do it (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
Don’t neglect reading the entire Bible—start today! The richness and vastness of our God awaits you.
What other benefits can you think of to reading the entire Bible?
By Kristen Wetherell
**This post originally appeared on Unlocking the Bible.
About the Author: Kristen Wetherell is a writer, Bible teacher, and the content manager of Unlocking the Bible. She is the author, along with Sarah Walton, of Hope When It Hurts: Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God’s Purpose in Your Suffering (The Good Book Company, April 2017). She blogs at her website, and you can follow her on Twitter. She and her husband, Brad, are members of The Orchard in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Connect with Kristen at her website.