As we enter the Thanksgiving season, I have been thinking about all the blessings that God has given me. If I were to count them one by one, as the old song says, I would never finish. This morning, as I read His word, I was reminded of all the things it does for me. I will try to remind you of some of the blessings the Word of God brings to those who are His. Those who have accepted Him as their personal Savior have much to rejoice in and be thankful for.
As a human being, I am made in the image of God. I have a physical body that will die and decay, but I have a soul that will live forever. God gives me a choice as to where I will spend eternity. It is a blessing that I have a choice. I can choose Heaven with God, or Hell with Satan. I am thankful that God made provision for me to have that choice. Because I am a sinner and have transgressed against God, I deserve Hell. Yet, in His great love, He gave His Son to pay the penalty for my sins. I can place my faith in Him and know that I have a home in Heaven when I die. I do not have to guess about it or hope that I have it; I have the blessing of knowing I have eternal life in Him.
I John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
I have the blessing of the Comforter in His word. When Jesus was getting ready to ascend back to Heaven, the disciples were not happy that He would be leaving. He explains to them that when He leaves, the Father will send the Holy Spirit, which is the Comforter, to come and dwell within each believer. While walking this earth, Jesus was in one place at a time. However, the Comforter can dwell in every believer simultaneously. He will guide us in truth and comfort our hearts in times of trouble. He will bring the scripture that we have learned to our memory when we need it.
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
I have the blessing of the promise that the Word will keep me from sinning. In Psalm 119:11, the psalmist gives us a great truth to keep us from sinning. We are to hide God’s word in our hearts. To treasure it and keep it at the center of who we are. It is the most valuable, yet unseen, thing that we possess. When it is permanently placed within our hearts, it is there for the Holy Spirit to bring to our attention at any moment to use. It can keep us from sinning when we remember what God says about an issue.
The word brings peace to the soul. In Psalms 119:165, there is peace to those who love His word.
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
In God’s word, we have the blessing of wisdom and knowledge. We can use His word to gain understanding.
James 1:5-6 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
There are so many blessings that the Word of God brings to us. I cannot contain all of those in this devotional. However, we do not gain these blessings by osmosis. We must read it and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal its truth to us. We must study and search out what the verses mean. I use e-Sword, a free app. It allows me to download versions or translations of God’s word. It also allows me to download commentaries, dictionaries, word studies, and the Greek and Hebrew meanings of each word. The tools are there for me to use as I study and seek to know the scripture and its original meaning. It is only then that I can enjoy the blessing of application, as I better understand what God is saying to me. The tool I use is not the only one; there are many more, but I chose this one because it offers so many options.
The word offers us so many blessings, yet to access them, we must read and study it. It is God’s love letter to us. A letter that must be read to gain the benefit of it. You have the choice to live a blessed life or one that is filled with strife and confusion. A life that is full and eternally rewarded to those who read and obey. It is your choice. Why not determine today that you want to be and gain all that God has for you in this life and eternal life? I hope you choose to enjoy the blessings of His word.
