God gave us the Bible for many reasons, but one of the most important is to tell us the truth — about God, about Jesus Christ, about ourselves, about how God wants us to live, even about the future. The Bible says God “has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him” (2 Peter 1:3).

I am reminded about a group of people who are mentioned in the book of Acts, from a town called Berea. They apparently had never heard of Jesus, but when Paul told them about the Gospel, they were deeply impressed. But before they accepted Christ, they turned to the Bible to be sure Paul’s message was true: “They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). We should have the same eagerness.

Don’t feel like you have to master everything all at once. But set aside a few minutes and read a brief portion every day — just a paragraph or two at first. I often suggest people start with one of the Gospels (such as John), because they bring us to the heart of the Bible’s message — which is Christ. Ask God to teach you something each day.

Then take advantage of other opportunities to learn God’s Word. Pay close attention as the Bible is preached and taught in your church. Seek out a class or small group where you can discover more about the Bible. Above all, let its truth shape your heart and mind and life.