Time in the Word

I have been feeling that the Lord is encouraging me to spend more time in the Bible. This morning all the memory verses I was reviewing seemed to be pointing towards my time in the word. For some reason, I love to spend time in his word but sometimes .  . . I guess I don’t want to. It’s like I feel lazy. I have to FORCE myself at times. I prayed and prayed that this wouldn’t be the case and that I would love my time in the word. Largely, I feel that God has answered my prayer. My time in the word is beautiful and cleansing but it’s like I often forget and get, well, lazy. I am hesitant in using this illustration but It’s like a women’s times of intimacy with her husband. We can often approach it with a “reluctant” or “duty” attitude and even avoid it. But it is a gift for us as well and we may at times question avoiding it and even wonder why we don’t do it more often. Here are my memory verses from this morning:

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The word of God and the beautiful things expressed in it are not made up by people or the idea of someone out there. God’s beautiful plan for redemption was God’s idea and plan for us. I don’t think many people would have the audacity to ask God to send Jesus. To tell him “You become sin. I hurt you, yes, now you pay for it.” It’s like a man cheating on his wife with a prostitute, getting caught by the police, and then asking his wife to pay for his fine and serve his sentence. And then she does it!

The word of God is from God. People have been inspired by God but I believe that the Lord has gone a long way and worked very hard to get both his spoken and written word to us. He didn’t do all that for nothing. It’s because the word of God is worth it. The word of God is life changing and transforming. It reminds me of Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Again, the word of God transforms. It is profitable. Unlike so many other things you can spend your time on, the time in the word is not wasted or in vain, it is profitable!

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God 

Being full of faith is such a goal! I could probably go on for days talking about Abraham and faith and all the people mentioned in the faith chapter in Hebrews and all the ways faith is mentioned in scripture, so I will try to be succinct and mention that Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. So with faith we can please God. I know that it is not works that pleases God and at times being in the word can feel like trying to earn God or works. But it is by God’s grace that we have his word. His word is mighty. By his words he spoke creation into existence and by his words we are transformed. Ephesians 5:26 says that we are washed by the water of the word. So, rather than seeing our time in the word as something we do to make God happy it really should be seen as a precious gift that transforms and equips us.

Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said , and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Wow! God has spoken this one to me many times and in many ways. This morning, I took it as confirmation that if I persevere in his word, if I give it the time and the attention it deserves, I will not regret it. There will be faith. There will be transformation. There will be peace. There will be victory.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The connection of these verses to the others may seem less obvious (and again there is so much that can be said) but, to me, these verses speak love. It says that what God does and is doing in my life is out of him wanting and desiring more for me. Not because he wants to criticize or condemn me but because he wants to bless me. Just like us parents want our children to do well in school. We don’t want to control or burden them, but we want all the benefits that can come from the schooling - good grades, a good job, the enrichment schooling brings to our life. If there were not benefits, I think most of us would forget about it and let them do whatever they want. I think its the same way with God. He pushes us because he wants the best for us. If there were no benefit, I don’t think he would bother with it. However, there are benefits to spending time in the word and I think they are more than we even realize.