Time is valuable. And the older we get, the less free time we get. There are bills to pay, errands to run, and dishes to wash. Not to mention small group, family, and work responsibilities!

Because our time is precious, we carefully guard every minute of it. What we value gets top priority. What’s not, well… it gets neglected.

Sure, pastors encourage us to be better people. They tell us to read the Bible, pray, and help others. Their concern for our spiritual lives is helpful. But after the last song is played during Sunday’s service, we exit the building, hop in the car, and plan the million things we hope to squeeze in before work on Monday.

With our busy lives, why do pastors keep harping on reading Scripture? What makes meditating on verses critical? If I may: Why waste our time reading the Bible?

In addressing the Devil in the wilderness, Jesus quoted Scripture to counter the evil plans of Satan. Let’s here how Jesus quoted the Bible in response to spiritual opposition.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he endured temptations from the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Mandoes not live by bread alone.’” (Luke 4:1-4 NET)

“It is written,” says Jesus. He responded to spiritual opposition by referencing the Bible. He didn’t quote a line from a movie. He didn’t Google the top hits for how he was to respond. He recited Scripture.

So how’d He know what was written in the Bible? Well, He is God, so of course He’d know what was written in His Bible. It’s His Word after all, right?

Since we are not God, we must train ourselves to read Scripture. We are not all knowing. We must spend time or “waste time” reading the Bible. That way, when we encounter opposition, we can respond like Jesus did.

Scripture and/or notes quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://bible.org All rights reserved.