"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
(Psalm 119:97-105 )
Many people claim that they love God, but they don’t like spending time reading and meditating on the words of God. If we love God, we would love to spend time to get to know Him. Meditate on the words of God day and night, not only so that we remember the verses, but also so that we can meditate and apply them in our lives. After reading the Bible in the morning, let your mind digest the words of God throughout the day.
The key to conquer the spiritual warfare is all laid in the Bible. There is power in the Word of God. In order to live a victorious life, you don’t need to find the answer elsewhere, because all you need to unlock and win the spiritual warfare, is in the Bible.
Those who meditate on the Word of God will gain more wisdom than any intelligent people. The Bible teaches things that’s never been taught at schools or universities. We will gain more wisdom than what the world teaches us, especially when it comes to problems in life, wisdom in the field, and particularly about eternal life.
If you want to grow wiser, not just growing old, then learn from the Bible.
The Bible reveals to us the things not passed down by our parents/ancestors, things that may not exist in our family culture. The Bible can teach what our parents could not teach. Therefore, if you are parents, teach your kids in the word of God so when they grow up, they will not go astray from the norms of God’s word.
The words of God could withstand our feet from the way of evil and sin. If we raise our children without the words of God, just with a mere traditional wisdom, sooner or later, that wisdom will not be relevant because young people tend to have their own ways. Do not rely solely on good academics. There’s no guarantee that our children will be successful. Education is important, but as parents, it’s more important to educate ourselves with the words of God so that we can be examples/role models for our children.
If you love Jesus, then you would love the Bible. Yet do not misunderstand, the Bible is not to be worshipped, do not treat it as a talisman. The Bible contains the words of God that we love, but the actual book is just an object. Just like if we love our family, the things or the letters that they give you will be treasured.
The Bible is the highest authority for the lives of the believers. For Christ-believers, the highest authority isn’t their life experiences nor dreams, visions, or life philosophies. Learn from the words of God to be more Christ like.
How to correspond to the Bible:
- Love the Bible
Treat it with care, just like how we treasure valuable things in our lives. - Read the words of God in the Bible.
- Meditate it
The Word of God in the Bible is our guiding light, ask guidance from the Holy Spirit to apply it in our lives. Even though we might not understand them fully, just ready them first, and in its due time, we shall understand them. God’s Word is always useful. - Finish reading it annually
The content might be the same as we re-read the Bible, but the application could be different. Make a commitment to always finish reading the whole Bible. Believe me, maybe we can complete reading it, but we can never completely understand God’s Word. - Do His commands
The purpose of reading / investigate God’s word is not to gain knowledge, or to win a debate, but to strengthen our faith so that we can do God’s will.
Excerpted from Ps. Philip Mantofa’s sermon, 04 July 2020, Youtube & Instagram Live
https://youtu.be/rzW7JkSA5uU
When reading the Bible, your motivation is not to master God’s Word but to live a life led by God’s Word. If you want to grow wisdom, not just grow old, learn from the Bible.
