Why Read the Word?

As I studied this week, one verse in particular really stood out to me.

"Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments."

    

Verse 73 of Psalm 119 recognizes a very important principle. It answers a question that many of us have: Why should I read the Bible? Why should I keep His commands? The answer is because He made and fashioned us.

^{Please note that this is only an illustration and an inaccurate representation of the workings of our Lord.} Let's say that you love sail boats, and want to make a toy boat of your own. You carefully carve its body from wood and cut out its sail from cloth. You paint it bright red, and along the side, in big white letters, you paint your name. One day, you decide to take your little boat to a local pond, to see it float about in the water. After gently placing it down in the pond, you step back to watch it go. Soon though, another little boy comes down to the river's edge, picks up your boat, and starts to walk away with it. Are you going to stand by and watch him steal your boat? No! Rather, you will run after the boy. And what will you tell him? "That's my boat!" Why don't you want anyone else taking your boat? Because it's yours. You made it.
 
Now, let's say that one day you decided you were going to take your little sail boat on a journey up the river. Are you going to just let it go off by itself? Or are you going to guide that boat? You will certainly want to guide that boat, but with what? What about a long red string tied to one end of your boat? Would that help you guide it?

You see, it is the same way with God and us. He formed us, and wrote His name on us, proving once and for all that we are His. Is He going to just stand around and let another come and take us? Why not? Because He made us and we belong to Him. And because we are His, He can do whatever He wants with us, and we must follow, just like the little boat. But here's where God's conduct differs from that in our story. He gave us a choice, allowing us to choose which way we went; which guide we followed. We could choose to wander off by ourselves, or we could choose to strap His guide string to us and follow His leading. His red guide string is none other than the Word of God.

If you bought a completely custom made one of a kind sports car, you would want to know how to run it properly, right? You wouldn't just play around with all the gadgets, would you? Rather, you would look for an instruction manual. And where might you go for one of those? To the creator and designer of the car, of course! After all, because he made the car, he knows more about it than anyone else.

In the same way, who but our Designer knows how we run? Who knows more about us than anyone else and knows all about how we should be properly taken care of? None but God Himself! And in His wisdom, He has given us an owner's manual to the body we now live in: God's Word. It lays out the steps for the best possible experience both here on earth and in heaven.

So why should we read God's Word?
#1 Because He has made us and owns us. Just like we might be jealous for our boat, God is jealous for the hearts, minds, and bodies of His children.
#2 Because He knows us than even we ourselves, for He made us and crafted us.
#3 Because He made us and loves us. He wants what's best for us. He wants us to run smoothly, and that is why He has given us the Scriptures, as a guide for life.

Are you seeking answers? Turn to the One who made you. Are you struggling with something? Turn to the One who loves you. Do you need some guidance? Turn to the One who fashioned you. He will give you the answers you are searching for, the love you are needing, and the guidance you are seeking. Read His Word.