Encouragement for Today - Jan. 16, 2007
January 16, 2007
God’s Holy Word
By Tracie Miles
Deuteronomy 11: 18-19: “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hand and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (NIV).
Devotion:
When my son turned six years old and started the first grade, he took part in a special ceremony at our church where he would receive his own Bible. My son was beamed with excitement, for he could not wait to get his very own special Bible. He sat quietly, anxiously awaiting his turn. When his name was called, he jumped up, looked straight at me, and gave me a smile so big that it reached from ear to ear. You would have thought he had won an Olympic gold medal based on the pride on his face at that moment!
After receiving his shiny new Bible, he headed back to the pews. For the next thirty minutes, he admired his Bible; he held it close to him; he caressed it; he flipped through all the pages looking for pictures of the Bible stories he knew about; and he even kissed his Bible over and over. Later that day, he picked up his Bible and said, “Mom, did you know that I have God’s holy word right here in my hands?”
My son reminded me just how precious God’s word should be to us, and I was almost envious of his genuine love for the most holy book of all. Although he is too young to understand all of the lessons that the Bible teaches us or what that book will eventually mean to his spiritual growth, he knew in his innocent little heart just how precious God’s word really is.
How often are we, as devoted Christians, overwhelmed with genuine, unfailing love for God’s holy book? Most of us have a Bible, but it is not enough just to have a Bible in our homes, or even numerous Bibles in our possession. It is not enough just to carry our Bible back and forth to church as if it were a purse. It is not enough to just read the Bible or to be able to quote scripture.
We are to be in love with God’s word and have a genuine passion to bask in its knowledge and power every day. If we are truly in love with God’s holy book and with his Son Jesus, we should be starving each day for its nourishment to our souls.
Although it is often difficult to find time to spend in God’s word due to the never-ending demands on our time, God desires, and requires, that we make Him a part of our day.
Psalm 79:8 says “… may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.” (NIV). God is our daily portion, and He is all we desperately need. Time spent with God is time well spent. When we sit with God and read His Word, we are approaching His throne, and He is listening to us, and speaking. Just as a little girl eagerly runs to the door each evening when her daddy returns home from work, and sits at her daddy’s feet listening to his wisdom, so should we do each day with our heavenly Father. And as my six-year-old son so eloquently put it, never forget that God’s holy words are right in our hands; we just have to choose to pick it up.
Dear Lord, please give me a thirst for your word that can only be quenched through spending time with you and reading my Bible. Help me to remember that I am so blessed to be able to read your word and to worship you freely. Forgive me for taking that for granted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Out of the Mouths of Babesby Wendy Pope
He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer
Neighborhood Bible Studies, ETC Corner
Application Steps:
Today call out to Jesus and ask Him to give you such a thirst for His word that you cannot carry out your day without meeting with Him to quench that heavenly thirst. Pray for His love, protection, and guidance to surround you each day.
Reflections:
Do you value God’s word as one of most your treasured possessions?
Do you sometimes take for granted that His word is right at your fingertips but we often allow it to sit on the coffee table and collect dust?
Do you ever feel desperate for encouragement from God, but neglect to spend time in His word in order to provide Him an opportunity to bless you?
Power Verses:
Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (NIV).
Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (NIV)
John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (NIV).
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living 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” (NIV).
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G,
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
