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People often look to New Years as being a time to make resolutions or
a new start in some aspect(s) of their life. In the Christian
world there is often a prodding to make one such resolution to read
the Bible through or, in the least, more. It only takes 10-12
minutes of reading a day to plow through the entirety of the Bible
is a well publish stat that affirms that any such resolution will not
be a significant imposition on your time. I believe that such a
cursory view is insufficient and that any such a resolution falls far
short of what should be. For this reason am resolved to always
study God's Word. Fifteen things to consider regarding these
amazing Scriptures:
#1. Scriptures are prayer (pray without ceasing) and teach us how
to pray.
Matthew 6:9-13 "This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom
come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us
today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have
forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.' (NIV, also Luke 11:1-4)
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually; (NIV,
in light of James 4:3)
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the
counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the
seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and
whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (NIV)
Psalms 119:14-16 I rejoice in following your statutes as
one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will
not neglect your word. (NIV)
#2. Scriptures are flawless and true (and I must know them to not
intentionally or inadvertently add to them or distort them)
Proverbs 30:5-6 "Every word of God is flawless; he
is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his
words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (NIV, also
Psalms 12:6, 18:30, 33:4, 119:160; 2 Samuel 22:31)
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy - think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned
or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you. (NIV)
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as
one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and
shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of
God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (NIV)
2 Peter 3:15b-16 ... our dear brother Paul also wrote you
with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all
his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain
some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable
people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own
destruction. (NIV, see also Revelation 22:18-19)
#3. Scriptures are a means of sanctification (making me holy)
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is
truth. (NIV)
Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By
living according to your word. (NIV)
Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I
might not sin against you. (NIV)
Psalms 119:104-105 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path. 105 Your word is a
lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (NIV)
Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a
noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by
persevering produce a crop. (NIV)
John 8:31-33 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus
said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free." (NIV)
#4. Scriptures expose sin (within and without)
Hebrews 4:12-13 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. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from
God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of
him to whom we must give account. (NIV)
#5. Scriptures are the Word of God at work in us and we crave it.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually
because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us,
you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the
word of God, which is at work in you who believe. (NIV)
1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual
milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you
have tasted that the Lord is good. (NIV, also the progression
to solid food in 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:11-14)
#6. Scriptures reveal what pleases God (and exposes what doesn't)
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how
to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask
you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For
you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord
Jesus. (NIV)
Ephesians 5:8-11 Live as children of light 9 (for the
fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (NIV)
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)
#7. Scriptures expose vain traditions and rules of man
Matthew 15:3-9 Jesus replied, "And why do you
break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God
said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his
father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say that if a
man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise
have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' 6 he is not to
'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the
sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he
prophesied about you: 8 "'These people honor me with
their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me
in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
(NIV, also Mark 7:6-13)
#8. Scriptures enable me to recognize the spiritual leaders and
imitate their faith
Hebrews 13:7-8 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word
of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate
their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 16:15-19 You know that the household of
Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted
themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16 to
submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and
labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus
arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For
they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve
recognition. (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 For we know, brothers loved by God,
that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply
with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep
conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You
became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering,
you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy
Spirit. (NIV)
#9. Scriptures contain the revealed mystery of God (and even
angels long to look into these things)
Colossians 1:25-27 I have become its servant by the
commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its
fullness- 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and
generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has
chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this
mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (NIV)
1 Peter 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets,
who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and
with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and
circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when
he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would
follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been
told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these
things. (NIV)
Psalms 111:2 Great are the works of the Lord; they are
pondered by all who delight in them. (NIV)
#10. Scriptures are part of our defense against spiritual attacks
(sword of the spirit)
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can
take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on
the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to
stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your
waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with
your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all
kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always
keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)
#11. Scriptures are what we're supposed to be living out.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age." (NIV)
Luke 6:46-49 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and
do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to
me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a
man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on
rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not
shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my
words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a
house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent
struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was
complete." (NIV)
Luke 11:28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear
the word of God and obey it." (NIV)
John 13:17 Now that you know these things, you will be
blessed if you do them. (NIV)
1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we
obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but
does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in
him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in
him must walk as Jesus did. (NIV)
2 John 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in
the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the
teaching has both the Father and the Son. (NIV)
#12. Scriptures give us hope and help us not grow weary and lose heart
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past
was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (NIV)
Hebrews 12:2-5a Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful
men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your
struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of
shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of
encouragement that addresses you as sons: (NIV)
#13. Scriptures are how we know about God (Jesus) and eternal life.
John 5:39-40 You diligently study the Scriptures because
you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the
Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to
have life. (NIV)
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of
truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he
created. (NIV)
#14. Scriptures bring salvation to the lost
1 Peter 1:23-25 For you have been born again, not of
perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring
word of God. 24 For, "All men are like grass, and all
their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and
the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands
forever." And this is the word that was preached to
you. (NIV)
Romans 10:11-15 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who
trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is
no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all
and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How,
then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can
they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they
hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach
unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the
feet of those who bring good news!" (NIV)
John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray
also for those who will believe in me through their message (NIV)
Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, "Go into all the
world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes
and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned. (NIV, see also John 17:18)
#15. Scriptures have the only valid solution to the eternity
questions that are part of our being and ongoing thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has also set eternity in the
hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from
beginning to end. (NIV)
Conclusion
If all of this is not enough reason to want to be in God's word,
nothing is. Indeed these things demand that we will not merely
read the words, but study them, delight in them, treasure them and
seek to hide them in our hearts. This is why I resolve, not
just at the beginning of the year but all year long, to study God's
word. If this is your goal too, God will give you the ability
to do so.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to him. (NIV) |
