I am so thankful for God’s word, but typing that doesn’t seem to express what I really feel. No matter what situation I am facing there are answers in God’s word. It is what I look forward to when I first wake in the morning. I get my cup of coffee and begin to read. It is having coffee with my best friend. In His word, I get to know Him more each time I read. His words teach me of His love for me. In John 15:13, I learn there is no greater love than the laying down of His life for me. I want to know the one who loves me that much. Therefore, I spend time in His love letter to me.
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
His word nourishes my soul like food does my physical body. In Proverbs 3:8, Solomon says it is “It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” It will strengthen us in self-control, teach us patience, and gives us desires that are holy instead of passions of the flesh. It keeps me focused and helps me function with a clear mind when I remember the truths of His word.
God’s word gives us direction. In Psalm 119:105, his word is a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” The world is full of darkness. Satan is the prince of the air, but God’s word will show me how to overcome the darkness and it will light my pathway to safety. When you are in the dark, you need light to guide you. God’s word does that for me. Before I was saved, I walked in darkness. I lived according to this world’s values. I wrestled with spiritual wickedness, but after salvation, I have the Holy Spirit dwelling within me and God’s word before me. His word teaches me how to equip myself to be an overcomer of the things that are against God.
Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
Ephesians 6:12 ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
God’s word is a tool that shows me who I really am. It exposes to me what God already knows about me. This helps me to draw closer to Him as I allow it to penetrate my heart. In Hebrews 4:12, it is sharper than any two-edged sword. A two-edged sword cuts anything it touches. It is piercing and penetrates into the heart. The word “quick” in Hebrews 4:12 means “alive.” It is powerful! It convicts the heart and awakens the conscience to areas in our lives that are sinful or need changing to be more like Jesus. It exposes or lays open our feelings and allows us to see them as God sees them. For the unrepentant person, the word of God should cause them to have fear and apprehension of the coming judgment of God.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The word of God can bring peace to the soul as we meditate on its truths. Knowing I serve a God who knows all, is above all, is in control, and is orchestrating events in my life that are best for me is a great comfort. When it seems that things are out of control, I know He is in control. When I don’t understand, I know I can trust Him. Without His word, I would not know what a great God I serve. I learn to trust Him more each time I read His word. The more I know Him, the more I love Him. The more I love Him, the more I trust Him. The more I trust Him the more at peace I am with my life. No matter what the circumstances I can rest in Him because I know Him. You do not get this kind of peace unless you know Him, and you can’t get to know Him unless you read what He has written to you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Paul writes in II Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” While Paul was writing this to young Timothy as a minister, it applies to all of us. We are to study God’s word. It teaches us how to live. It teaches us who to live for. It teaches us the value and reward of living for God, and it teaches us the destruction of those who don’t.
I am so thankful that we have the written word to guide us, teach us, and show us ourselves the way God sees us. I know there are many places in the world where the written word is scarce and forbidden. I can’t imagine not being able to read my Bible each day. We have been so blessed to live where we can have God’s word at our fingertips in print and online. Why then would you want to go a day without spending time with your best Friend, when your Friend is waiting for you? If you are a Christian and you don’t enjoy reading your Bible, you need to take a reality check. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them. Do you truly love Jesus as you say you do?
