Tuesday, June 14th, 2022
One critical error we all have made is treating the Bible like the dictionary. For those of us old enough to have grown up with a hard copy of the dictionary in their house, we all know how we used it. Whenever we had a question as to the spelling or meaning of a word, we pulled it off the book shelf, found our answer, and then put it back until the next time we have a question. None of us ever picked it up and read it each day; none of us gave it much thought other than when we had to settle a disagreement in Scrabble or find an answer to a question. We’ve all at times treated the Bible in the same way, only reaching for it in times of crisis or when we don’t know what to do. But the Bible is so much more than just a quick reference book! It is the living Word of God — the most complete Word most of us will ever receive from the Lord in our lives. The words we read are written to us from the mind of God himself. When Joshua was installed as the new leader of Israel after Moses, God said to Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Hebrews says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” And as far as acting upon what we read, Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.” Living within the Word is the only way for it to live within us. Today, commit to keeping your Bible ever present around you, spending time studying it and in doing so, find the joy that only the Word of God through the Holy Spirit can bestow.
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” -- Joshua 1:8
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” -- Hebrews 4:12
“If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.” -- John 14:23