Ten Ways To Apply the Bible In Your Everyday Life
For Christians, the Bible is the word of God. The text provides teachings and narratives that serve as a roadmap for following Christ's example. As such, these timeless teachings can be applied to our everyday lives. Here are ten ways to apply the Bible in your everyday life:
1. Abide by the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
The Ten Commandments are unambiguous instructions on how to serve God by always putting Him first, remembering and keeping the Sabbath holy, turning away from idolatry, and resisting the temptations of human life. Coveting your neighbor’s spouse or their possessions turns us away from God, toward prohibited acts like adultery and morally damaging feelings like envy. And it doesn’t get much clearer than “thou shalt not kill,” “thou shalt not steal,” or “thou shalt not bear false witness.”
2. Loving God and Your Neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40)
Jesus summarized the law and the teachings of the prophets by commanding us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. While these commands sound simple, they can be difficult to put into daily practice, often requiring conscious effort and devotion to follow.
Many of our neighbors seem very difficult to love. We’re tempted to avoid people who don’t believe as we do, or who make us uncomfortable by their behavior or their economic circumstances. But Christ’s admonition to love our neighbors as ourselves requires that we extend love to everyone we encounter who needs it, including the outcast, the imprisoned, the weak, and the sick.
Show love for your neighbors by being kind, forgiving, and looking for practical opportunities to help, such as by providing meals and shelter, simple gestures of kindness, or just a listening ear.
3. Showing Mercy (Luke 10:25-37)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is an example of loving one’s neighbor, by showing mercy to all, not just those within our immediate social or religious circles, including those that society regards as sinners, outcasts, or unworthy of attention.
The story of the Good Samaritan also forces us to acknowledge that being a member of church or social hierarchy, like the priest or the Levite in the story, doesn’t automatically mean that one is complying with God’s command to love one’s neighbor. The priest and the Levite pass the injured man by and leave him lying in the road.
But the Samaritan, himself an outcast with whom the Jews would never associate, is the one who does the right thing in the story. This is a vivid illustration that simply being able to quote scripture and follow religious law isn’t enough. We must be willing to act to assist those in need without prejudice.
In everyday life, this can inspire you to volunteer your time at shelters, donate to the less fortunate, and practice random acts of kindness.
4. Practice Forgiveness (Matthew 6:14; 18:21-22)
Jesus taught forgiveness and displayed it throughout his life, even asking God to forgive those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). It's essential to forgive those who wrong us and seek forgiveness when we err, even if we must do so “seventy times seven” times.
And when someone does us wrong, we must remember our own misdeeds, and how we were forgiven for them, instead of behaving like the wicked servant who was forgiven his debt to his master, but failed to forgive one who owed him.
Release grudges and seek reconciliation when possible. Find the strength to forgive and pray for those you have difficulty forgiving.
5. Seeking Guidance Through Prayer and the Holy Spirit
Believers are encouraged to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom, and to pray for direction. Christ taught that the one thing that may not be forgiven is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32).
Opening yourself up to guidance from the Holy Spirit is the way to cope with life’s difficulties and tough decisions. Keeping your heart closed to outreach from the Holy Spirit, when we know that it is God who is beckoning us through the Holy Spirit, is a form of denying God and an unforgivable sin.
6. Reading the Bible Daily
Dedicate time each day to read and study the Bible. Use a concordance or commentary to gain deeper insights into the scriptures. Contemplate your daily reading and think about how you can apply the Bible it in everyday living. Seek guidance in group Bible study, or by learning from scholars who have read Scripture in its original languages and translated it faithfully.
Wide margin Bibles are good tools to use to enrich your understanding of Biblical texts. They offer ample space to make notes and observations, or to record reminders of how the verse applies in your life.
7. Regular Church Attendance
“Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.” If God rested on the seventh day, we should do the same. Church is a place for collective worship, learning, and fellowship, providing a respite from daily toil. Remembering the Sabbath is an opportunity to renew our spirits, re-energize our commitment, and approach a return to the workweek with a brighter, clearer outlook on what living a Christian life is really all about.
8. Practice Humility (Matthew 18:4; 23:12)
The Bible discourages boastfulness and vanity. Jesus himself led by example, washing the feet of his disciples as a display of humility. He gave the example of becoming like a little child, in a time when children were very much required to obey. He admonished the hypocrites in the temple that those who exalt themselves shall be abased, but the humble shall be exalted.
9. Striving to Please God
The goal for believers is to live in a way that pleases God, reflecting the teachings of Jesus in their lives. Each day, when confronted with challenges or opportunities, consider how to align your actions, speech, and thoughts with biblical teachings, and how you can serve God in each moment of your day.
10. Discussing Biblical Principles with Others
Matthew 28:7-8 and 19-20 encourages us to spread the teachings of Jesus. Seek opportunities to share your faith and engage in meaningful discussions about biblical principles with others. Be respectful and open-minded, always pointing back to God’s word as the ultimate authority. However, don’t be hypocritical and set yourself up as a virtuous pillar when you are just as prone to error as the next person.
Incorporating biblical principles into our daily lives is not always easy, but it is possible with intention and practice. Keep your Bible close, and remember that all things are bound in God’s love.
