Why We Read

Steve Davis reflects on why Bible reading must become more than a duty, inviting believers to listen, respond, and let Scripture reshape daily life.

By Steve Davis

Read Time: 8 minutes

A life in Christ is shaped by many habits, but few are as quietly powerful as the daily opening of Scripture.

For generations, Christadelphians have described themselves as “a people of the Book.” That phrase has never been merely a slogan. It describes a way of life shaped by Scripture. The Bible has informed our beliefs, guided our preaching, and shaped the conversations in our homes and ecclesias. For many, the Daily Readings provide a steady rhythm to the day—a quiet moment during the day when we open the Word of God and allow it to speak.

Yet many of us sense that this rhythm is not as strong as it once was. Life today moves quickly. The pace of work, family, and communication often leaves little space for quiet reflection. Screens and notifications compete constantly for our attention. Even when we intend to read, the day can pass before we realize that the Bible has remained closed.

It would be easy at this point for us to slip into nostalgia and speak longingly of an earlier time. But Scripture itself cautions us against that instinct: “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.” (Ecclesiastes 7:10).¹

The goal is not to idealize the past. Every generation faces its own challenges and distractions. The real question is not whether things were once easier or better, but whether the Word of God still deserves a central place in our lives today.

And the answer, of course, is a resounding yes!

This month’s special issue is not an exercise in sentimentality, nor an attempt to produce guilt. It is simply an invitation to return to the Word—to read it again with intention, to meditate on it thoughtfully, and to talk about it with one another. If the readings have slipped from your life, we believe that taking them up again can help you rediscover the joy of living each day with Scripture open before you. The purpose of daily reading has never been to maintain a tradition. It has always been to sustain a life.

Living by Every Word

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, his response revealed something fundamental about human life: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). Bread sustains the body, but it is the Word of God that sustains the most important kind of life.

The Scriptures are not merely a source of religious information. They are the means by which God reveals Himself to His people. Through their pages, we encounter His character, His promises, His justice, and His mercy. We see His purpose with the earth unfolding across generations, and we come to understand what He desires from those who seek to follow Him.

Without regular exposure to Scripture, it becomes very easy for our thinking to drift toward the patterns of the world around us. Paul recognized this danger when he wrote: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2).

Transformation requires renewal, and renewal requires that our minds be shaped by something deeper than the voices that surround us each day. Scripture provides that steady influence. Through daily reading, the mind gradually becomes familiar with God’s way of thinking: His priorities, His judgments, His compassion, and His purpose.

Over time, the effect is both quiet and profound. The words of Scripture begin to shape the instincts of the heart. Passages remembered in moments of reflection begin to guide decisions, calm fears, and strengthen faith. Daily reading, then, is not simply a discipline to maintain. It is a means by which God gently reshapes the people who seek Him.

From Knowledge to Character

Of course, the goal of reading Scripture is not simply to accumulate knowledge. The Bible was never intended to solely produce experts in religion. Its purpose is far more personal. It forms character. Paul describes the new self as one “which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:10).

Knowledge and character belong together. As we come to understand the message of Scripture more deeply, we also begin to see more clearly the kind of people God calls us to become. Understanding Scripture more deeply should lead us to live it more faithfully.

James expresses the relationship clearly: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22). Reading and living cannot be separated. The Word that enters the mind is meant to shape the life.

When the Habit Has Slipped

In many Christadelphian homes, the Daily Readings remain a cherished rhythm of life. Bibles are opened around the breakfast table or before the day ends, and children grow up hearing the stories of Scripture read aloud. Those who have maintained this practice know its quiet value, and their example can help encourage others to rediscover the joyful, steady rhythm of life in the Word.

At the same time, maintaining this rhythm has become more challenging amid the pace and distractions of modern life. Even when we believe deeply in the importance of Scripture, the habit of daily reading can be difficult to sustain—something many sincere believers quietly recognize in their own lives. Schedules fill quickly, the quiet moments that once allowed for reflection disappear almost without notice, and a missed day can easily become a missed week. Gradually, the rhythm fades—often without our intending it.

When this happens, the natural response may be discouragement, guilt, or simply the feeling that the habit has slipped too far to recover easily. Yet Scripture itself invites a different response.

The answer is not guilt but return.

The God who speaks through His Word does not withdraw when we struggle to listen. His invitation remains the same as it has always been. Whenever we open the Bible again, we step back into the conversation He has been having with His people for centuries.

Returning may begin very simply. One passage. One reading today. Not an attempt to recover lost time, but a renewed willingness to listen. Over time, small acts of faithfulness restore patterns that once seemed lost.

A People Shaped by Scripture

The importance of daily reading has deep roots within the Christadelphian community. From the beginning, those who shaped the early movement believed that faith must rest on careful engagement with Scripture itself. Following the example of the Bereans in Acts, believers were encouraged to examine the Bible personally and thoughtfully.

This conviction eventually found practical expression in the Bible Companion, a daily reading plan designed to guide readers steadily through the whole Bible.

The readings also created a shared experience. Christadelphians around the world open the same passages each day, and Sunday exhortations often draw on Sunday’s readings. In this way, the Word of God becomes not only a personal guide but a common language within the ecclesia.

To be “a people of the Book” has always meant more than affirming the authority of Scripture. It means living with the Bible open.

Reading in a Distracted Age

If daily Bible reading required discipline in the past, it requires even more intention today. Modern life surrounds us with a constant stream of information. News, commentary, and entertainment arrive continually through our devices. The effect can be subtle but significant: our attention becomes fragmented, and reflection becomes rare. In such an environment, the deliberate choice to read Scripture quietly is almost countercultural. It is a way of acknowledging that God’s voice deserves space in our lives that no other voice can replace.

The psalmist describes the blessed person as one “whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” (Psalm 1:2). Meditation suggests lingering with the text, allowing its words to settle in the mind and shape the heart. Such reflection cannot happen in constant distraction. It grows only when we intentionally make room for it.

The reward of that space is stability. The psalm continues by describing the faithful reader as “like a tree planted by streams of water.” (Psalm 1:3). Roots deepen gradually, nourished by the steady flow of God’s Word.

Reading with the Kingdom in View

For believers, Scripture is never merely about the past. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible directs our attention forward. Its promises point toward the restoration of the earth, the reign of Christ, and the fulfillment of God’s purpose with humanity.

Daily reading helps keep that hope alive. As we move through the Scriptures, the prophets speak of a future world shaped by righteousness and peace, the Gospels reveal the character of the King who will reign, and the apostles remind us of the life that belongs to those who wait for his coming.

Even readings that may seem ordinary at the time gradually build that vision in our minds. The promises of God become familiar, our confidence in them grows steadier, and the coming Kingdom becomes more real to us. In this way, Scripture does more than inform our minds—it nourishes our hope. And that hope is strengthened each time we return to the Word.

A Continuing Invitation

Because Scripture nourishes that hope, returning to it remains one of the simplest and most powerful habits of a life in Christ. This special issue is offered in that spirit. Its aim is not to create pressure or to idealize the past, but simply to encourage renewed engagement with the Word of God. The articles that follow explore different aspects of Bible reading—its purpose, its history, and the practical ways it can shape our lives.

Yet the most important step is also the simplest: at some point today, we simply need to open the Bible. Within its pages, we encounter the voice of our Father, the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promises that sustain our hope. Those words continue to shape lives just as they always have.

If the habit of reading has remained strong, this issue may simply deepen that practice. If it has weakened or slipped away, the invitation remains the same: begin again.

For generations, believers have discovered that the quiet decision to open the Scriptures each day gradually transforms the life that surrounds it. The Word steadies faith, clarifies hope, and gently shapes character.

In the pages that follow, brothers and sisters from around the world share their experiences, insights, and encouragement about engaging with God’s Word. Some reflect on the connection between Bible reading and prayer, while others offer practical ideas for family readings, personal study, Bible marking, and building lasting habits around Scripture. We’ll explore ways to navigate seasons when the readings feel dry, consider the blessings and challenges of digital tools, and learn from those who have discovered the joy of reading, studying, and discussing the Bible together.

Whether you are a lifelong reader of Scripture or someone trying to rekindle a daily habit, we hope these articles remind you that God’s Word is not simply a book to be read, but a gift to be treasured. Our prayer is that this issue will encourage each of us to spend more time listening to our Heavenly Father’s voice, finding comfort in His promises, wisdom for our daily lives, and renewed excitement in the hope that lies before us. May His Word continue to be a lamp to our feet, a light to our path, and a source of strength and joy each day.

So as this issue begins, the encouragement is simple: let us return to the Book. Let us read it thoughtfully, meditate on it patiently, and speak about it with one another. In doing so, we listen again to the voice that nourishes faith and prepares us for the Kingdom God has promised.

Steve Davis,
Boston Ecclesia, MA