WEDNESDAY - "BENEFITS OF READING GOD'S WORD (PART 1)"

Week One – Wednesday

“Benefits of Reading God’s Word – Part One”

On Monday we asked the question “What Is Your Motivation For Reading God’s Word?”  On Tuesday we talked about “Developing A Passion For God’s Word.”

 

Today, I want us to think about the Benefits of Reading God’s Word.

Why is consistently reading the Bible important for a follower of Jesus Christ?  Why should it matter that we spend any time outside of our normal “Church” routine reading and digesting God’s Word?

The answer is simple.  God’s Word is the foundation of our spiritual health and the fuel of our spiritual vitality.  Held within the pages of God’s Word we find the source and sustenance of every need that you and I will have as a Child of God.

Think about just a few reasons we need to read the Bible consistently:

• We read the Bible to know Truth!  We want to think clearly about what God says is true and valuable! (see 2 Peter 1:20-21)
• We read the Bible to know God in a personal way! (see 1 Corinthians 1:21, Galatians 4:8-9, 1 Timothy 4:16)
• We read the Bible to live well for God in this world!  Living out His will expresses our love for Him! (see John 14:23-24, Romans 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• We read the Bible to experience God’s freedom, grace, peace, and hope! (see John 8:32, Romans 15:4, 2 Peter 1:2)
• We read the Bible because it gives us joy! (see Psalm 119:11)
• We read the Bible to grow spiritually as we reject conformity to the world and are changed by the renewing of our mind. (see Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 2:1-2)
• We read the Bible to minister to other Christians and those who have not yet responded to the Gospel. (see Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17)
• We read the Bible to guard ourselves from sin! (see Ephesians 6:11-17, 2 Peter 2:1-2)
• We read the Bible to be built up as a Christian Community with others in the Body of Christ! (see Acts 20:32, Ephesians 4:14-16)

When you read these reasons we should read the Bible consistently make a note in your journal of the ones that seem most relevant and important to you right now.

Our text of focus today is an Old Testament passage that gives us a good example of the importance of interacting with God’s Word.  Deuteronomy 6:1-12 is part of a long list of instructions God gave to the Children of Israel, through Moses, to get them ready to enter the “Promise Land.”

WHEN YOU READ DEUTERONOMY 6:1-12 NOTE IN YOUR JOURNAL:

·        Pay attention to the emphasis on listening to God’s Word.  What is the relationship between loving God and living according to His ways?

Verses 4-9 of our passage have historically been very important to the Jewish people, making up part of the Shema, a Hebrew word meaning listen.  Notice, God instructed the people to keep His commandments in their hearts, to teach them and hand them down to their children and to talk about them constantly.

He even told them to bind His words on their hands and on their forehead and to write them on their doorposts.  When we love God, we listen to His Word and obey It’s teachings.

·        Why do you think it was so important for the people to be immersed in God’s Word as they entered the land? Make note..

·        How can Christians today keep the Word at the forefront of our lives as we interact with the world?  Make note..

  

It is just as important for modern-day Christians to keep God’s word in their heart and mind as it was for the Hebrews or any other generation of people in history.  Just as they were facing new challenges in their day, we face new situations and pressures daily in our lives.  The enemy is still in the business of seeking to destroy our lives and in our day there are more and more ways for him to attack us it seems.

 

One of the most basic ways to ensure that we are daily putting God’s Word in our lives is to establish a pattern for spending time in God’s Word.  I will be sending out an article on “How To Have A Quiet Time.”  In the mean time, begin to pray that God will open your heart, mind, and schedule to develop a quiet time.

“Dear God,

I know that You Word is my lifeline in this world.

I know that I need it in my heart and mind and need to be in Your Word Daily.

Help me to see the importance of Your Word and to work for a daily schedule.

Take away distractions and excuses.  Open my heart, mind and schedule.

Feed me, guide me, protect me in Your Word.

Amen.”