All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
When our Pastor asks for someone to read a verse, during our Sunday School class or during one of our studies, my husband and I always race to see who can come up with it first. This was a training that my husband learned in Sunday school as a child and we did it with our children as well. It has proven very helpful in knowing where the books of the Bible are located and it even helps in scripture memorization. Which Psalm 119:11 shows us that we should be doing, to better enable us to resist sin (“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”).
Our family used to go to church with an individual, who was frequently able to quote scripture verses, without even having to search for them. This gentleman had memorized an incredible amount of scripture, but there was question as to whether He actually had a relationship with the Lord. Although He knew what God’s word said….without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it was of little to no value to him and certainly was unable to provide him with eternal life (“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:39-40). All of the verses that God spoke to draw us (and this person) to Himself, got locked away in a vault, in his mind. A vault filled with knowledge, of the scripture, was in this gentleman’s mind… but it was not in his heart, which is where the Psalms indicate it should be. This man had a head knowledge of what God said in His word, but not a heart knowledge.
Although I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I have to confess that when I read God‘s word, there are often times when He will speak a new truth, directly into my heart. I get so excited to hear that new revelation or that new conviction. But, I must confess that at times, I too am guilty of locking it away in a vault, filled with knowledge of the scripture, and I don’t apply it to my life. Or, if I do apply it, it is only for a short period of time that I do.
What an incredible waste!
The Bible is filled with the words of God, breathed out by Him. Men wrote the words down, as the Holy Spirit lead them (For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21) The scripture tells us that “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” (Psalm 12:6).
Yes, God tells us through the scriptures, that His word is for our teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). But, those words are also a love letter from our Heavenly Father, given to us, to teach and guide us and to deepen our love for Him. They should never be treated cavalierly or used for self glorification.
We are commanded to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind (And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind). This is the great and first commandment. Matthew 22:37-38). Shouldn’t we be hungering to read the messages that He wrote for us? Shouldn’t we desire to memorize every single thing that He has said to us? When we read the Bible we can hear God’s voice, shouldn’t we be devouring it? When was the last time that we even read it?
I pray that today, instead of spending our time reading the most recent tweets or friend requests or even 5 minute devotionals, that we would open those beautiful pages of God’s word. I pray that we would read the words that our Heavenly Father breathed out for us. I pray that within those pages we would hear His promises, His teaching, His correction and the depths of His immeasurable love. I pray that we would have a hunger for His word that cannot be satisfied and that the more we read the more we will hunger after it.
God is a loving Father and He has left His word for us because He desires a relationship with us. The more we read His word the deeper that relationship becomes. Immerse yourself in it! There is no time like the present, to begin a deeper study of His word.
Perhaps you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and perhaps you have never read a word of the Bible. That doesn’t change God’s love for you or His desire for a relationship with you. God’s desire is to forgive you and to even adopt you as His very own child. I pray that you will go to our Life Preserver page and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Once you have, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-n-loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you and would even love to help you read and study the scriptures.
God wants to speak to you through His word, open those pages!
Luv Ya!
