The importance of daily Bible reading.
There’s a lot of emphasis on reading Scripture. While there’s not a command in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt read the Bible everyday!” I recently came across a couple portions of Scripture that address the importance of reading the Scriptures consistently.
In Deuteronomy 17, Moses is preparing the people for the leadership of his successor. He gives guidelines for a King upon entering and settling in the promised land and offers specific guidelines regarding the “body of instruction on a scroll,” saying, the king “must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel” (Deuteronomy 17.18-20).
Later, after Moses dies, Joshua becomes the new leader of God’s people. Joshua 1.6-9 gives the following instructions: “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
The Bible is the story of our spiritual ancestors. We learn about God through their experiences. And, hopefully, our faith is strengthened and challenged by their experiences!