THOUGHTS ON THE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD

The single most important thing for a Christian to do to maintain and grow their relationship with God is to read and study their Bible every day. Many Christians fail to do this relying on Church attendance to produce spiritual growth but this is a deception; there simply is no substitute for time spent with God’s word if you want to grow in the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God.

The Apostle Paul said “Faith without works is dead”, speaking of the righteous works Christians do to demonstrate their faith, including worship, prayer and, most importantly, study of God’s word. Paul praised the Berean Christians for “searching the Scriptures daily” and condemned the Hebrew Christians for being spiritually immature, unable to discern deep truths because they are “unskilled in God’s word.” Paul likened the Hebrew Christians to fat babies, needing milk but unable to digest solid food, and thereby “unable to discern both good and evil.”

Saint’s, we need to take God’s command to “grow in the knowledge of our Lord” to heart and develop the discipline of diligent study of God’s word. Paul said Christians who diligently study God’s word would find God’s approval and not need to be ashamed, able to correctly interpret God’s word. Notice the implication: Christians who do not study God’s word will be unable to correctly interpret scripture, and will, as James the brother of Jesus said, be like babies – immature Christians – tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of deceitful men. And, these Christians will be ashamed and unapproved before God!

We know the Greatest Commandment is to Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength… we have to do this! Well, Jesus commanded, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” We are commanded to demonstrate our love for our Lord through obedience to His words. There are 1050 New Testament commandments which are our Lord’s commandments. How will we keep them if we do not know them through study of God’s word?

God called David “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” So, why was David so beloved by God and how did he know God’s will? David absolutely loved God’s Law: “For I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.” It is not hard to see his complete adoration for God’s Word. Scripture states David delighted in the word of the Lord, and in His word David meditated day and night. Now to meditate is to think deeply and carefully about something as the focus of one's mind for a period of time. Meditation is best done from memorization or with ready access to scriptures. Notice also the frequency of meditation, “day and nigh.” David’s thoughts were never far from God. So, if you want to be a man after God’s own heart … meditate day and night on God’s word… let the word circumcise your heart… renew your mind… make you Christlike...

"LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY"