“Let’s Not Get Too Deep” Bible Readings
“4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Are you engaging with God’s Word? You could make your readings short, or you could make them excessively long! You are only fully immersed in both instances if you’re present, listening, and open to His Holy Spirit. When the quality of your engagement is in shambles, it matters little about the quantity of your reading. As impressive as reading the Bible in a year is, sometimes you must meditate on a single verse for a week with rigorous intent. You might hide behind that ideal at other times, procrastinating when you should keep moving. Maybe you rush and can’t wait to finish, reading only to appease your conscience or to earn ‘brownie points’ with God. Or perhaps you avoid even starting. In either case, God’s waiting for you, but you may as well be elsewhere. God tells you how He wants you to read His Word.
Abide in God’s Word and faithfully seek His heart. While the Old Testament Law is no longer the means of justification with God (Galatians 3:11), it does reflect essential truths about God’s loving heart (Matthew 22:36-40; 1 John 4:8; Romans 13:10). Pray for God to open your eyes to see the wonders of His Law (Psalm 119:18) and to discern His heart (Exodus 34:6; Matthew 5:8, 6:21; Romans 12:2). Align your heart with God’s. When you walk in step with His will, your desires, and prayers will be answered (John 15:7). You can trust Him to provide for you when you depend on Him and His Words as your primary need (Deuteronomy 8:3). But do you trust? Ask God to help you hear and understand His Words, which can fill you with faith (Romans 10:17). Come to Jesus, abide in Him, and let His Words abide in you (John 15:7). Then you will be nourished.
Use God’s Word for nourishment. God supernaturally provided manna to the Israelites in the wilderness, highlighting their utter dependence on Him (Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Is God your spiritual source? Or are you trying to meet your spiritual void your way? To mature, you need pure nourishment on God’s Word like a baby needs milk (1 Peter 2:2). The Psalmist exclaimed how essential it is for a godly person to be nourished and delighted in God’s Law, to meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2-3). And if the Old Testament Law reflects God’s unchanging heart and holiness, as before mentioned, then there is much to learn even for you – who lives on this side of the New Testament. All God’s Words written in the past are there for learning, to comfort you in the present, and to give you hope for the future (Romans 15:4). You are absolutely reliant on God. The sooner you can recognize this, then the sooner you will become willing to obey.
Be dedicated and obedient to God’s Word. It is essential to properly discern and rightly divide God’s Word, diligently and zealously studying the scriptures, with a whole-hearted investment of mind, emotion, and will to correctly interpret (2 Timothy 2:15-16). Learn the truths of scripture and be encouraged to actively obey (1 Timothy 4:13). Stowing His Word in your heart as your greatest treasure (Matthew 6:21) will allow you to stay clean and prevent you from wandering into sin (Psalm 119:9-11). Jesus prayed that the truth of His Father’s Words would set apart His followers (John 17:17). Are you living set apart? A wise person hears Jesus’ words and understands and follows them, resulting in a solid foundation in God (Matthew 7:24-27). To obey His will, you must humbly lay down your filthiness and pick up God’s saving Word (James 1:21-22), living by it (Matthew 4:4). God instructed Joshua to recite and meditate on God’s Law continuously, being careful to observe and obey (Joshua 1:8). How serious will you get? Remember, an obedient life is a blessed life (Luke 11:28).
Use God’s Word to guide you through life. God’s Words give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (Proverbs 2:6). They are like light to help you understand (Psalm 119:130), brightening your path so you do not stumble (Psalm 119:105). As stated, studying God’s Word, meditating on it, and continuously keeping it in your heart is essential. Without God’s wisdom to guide you through life, you will live according to your heart and will, what you think is right, and what feels good – no matter how destructive this may be. At first glance, living your way seems more like a blessed life. But you cannot rule rightly! You are called to deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, and follow your Lord and Savior (Luke 9:23). A disciple of Jesus abides in His words, knows the truth, and is set free by it (John 8:31-32). You can be liberated from your destructive self-will. You can experience that truly blessed life and be conformed to God’s image.
Allow God’s Word to conform you to His image. God’s Word is God-authorised and God-breathed and is trustworthy to instruct and truthful to correct how to live according to God’s desire (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Words don’t return to Him empty; they do exactly as He pleases and accomplish their purpose (Isaiah 55:11). They are true (Psalm 119:160), and they are alive and powerful, exposing the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). They are pure like fire, exposing your impurities and imperfections (Proverbs 30:5-6). Attend to His Words; listen to what He says; read and listen continuously, and keep it close to your heart (Proverbs 4:20-21). Without God, you can’t. Without you, He won’t. All this is essential to fight the enemy.
Use Bible readings for spiritual warfare. When you hide God’s Word in your heart, you are protected from your tendency to act outside of God’s will (Psalm 119:11). This is because God’s Word then hides you from danger and protects you like a shield (Psalm 119:114). Hide God’s Word in you; then His Word will hide you. So, it’s a defense against the attacks from without. But the Word of God is also a spiritual sword in the believer’s armory (Ephesians 6:17), discerning your thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12) to remind you daily of your need to surrender to God and let Him take His proper place in your heart.
Put God first by prioritizing His Words. Your life depends on it!
