“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

— 2 Timothy 2:15

Someone once wrote out the Constitution of the United States, using longhand to achieve an amazing effect. As you read the document, you see just the words. But if you move back from it, you get another picture—a beautiful portrait of George Washington made by the variation of light and dark pen strokes. It is a magnificent work of art.

So it is with the Bible. When we first read it, we may see only stories about seemingly unrelated things. But after a while we discover that all of Scripture points to Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. The Old Testament foretells His coming; the Gospels describe His coming; the Epistles explain the reasons for His coming. As we look at the big picture of the Bible, we should see Jesus Christ.

Every Christian wanting an intimate relationship with Jesus needs to read and study God’s Word daily. And yet, so often we don’t study His Word at all. Imagine claiming to love someone who fights a battle in a far-off land. If that person wrote you letters, would you leave them sitting unopened on the coffee table? Of course not. You’d rip them open right away, read them, and read them again. Well, somewhere in our houses sit sixty-six love letters from God, from Genesis to Revelation. If we love God, let’s make sure we read those letters.

Set aside time regularly to delve into God’s Word, meditating upon it and hiding it in your heart. Get the Bible handbooks and dictionaries that supplement serious study of His Word. As you get to know the Bible better, you’ll discover more about and draw closer to the central figure of that book, Jesus Christ.

“The New Testament is the very best book that
ever was or ever will be known in the world.”
Charles Dickens