If you woke up this morning feeling vulnerable – it is okay. Don’t be ashamed. Recognizing that you are feeling weak makes you more aware of the fact that God is our covering. That we can do nothing on our own accord, we are dependent upon Him. That’s the way He created us! We were never meant to “figure things out on our own” or carry heavy burdens that way us down. God loves you SO much that He wrote you a HUGE love letter – it’s called The Bible and it is full of wisdom, guidance, examples, promises and most of all LIFE. It is His living Word! From it we get sustenance, strength, nourishment, guidance and wisdom. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, we only need to do one thing – READ IT.
That’s right – I said, READ IT. You have heard the saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink?” Such is the case with the Bible. The Bible is MEANT to be read. It is full of history! I think we forget that sometimes, ol’ slewfoot loves it when we look at the Bible without opening it and keep it as a “good luck charm” or “piece of family history/tradition” gathering dust on our bookshelves as if simply having it there is good enough. IT’S NOT! God worked through men and women to bring you prime examples of HIS love. These were people JUST LIKE YOU AND ME. People who sinned, people who fell short, people who loved God. People who were living and breathing individuals like you and me! People with short comings, people with gifts, people with doubts, people with faith! The WHOLE book was not meant to be put in a drawer set a side or on a shelf collecting dust – God wants you to READ IT! Why??? I can give you several reasons – straight from the Bible itself!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“For the word of God is alive 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. (Hebrews 4:12)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2)
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114)
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
God’s Word is to BENEFIT us. He has given it to us because He knows that we NEED direction. We NEED assistance. We NEED support. We NEED love and who better to give it to us but LOVE HIMSELF?
“God SO loved the world that He gave us His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall NOT perish but have ever lasting life.” (John 3:16)
The devil’s plan is to make you think that the Word of God is boring (have you read It? It is NOT). He wants to do everything in his limited power to keep you in the darkness, feeling weak, feeling defeated, feeling discouraged, feeling depressed. Why? Because he doesn’t want you to come into the knowledge of what God has done for you and who YOU ARE in CHRIST. He doesn’t want you to know that! If you were to open up your Word and read it – you would see that Jesus said:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
How would you know that UNLESS YOU READ THE WORD OF GOD? Oh dear reader! You are hungry! You are thirsty! You are starving for that which God has ALREADY given You! Spiritual food! Come sit at a table and devour it!
“For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33)
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
Ol’ slewfoot knows that God’s Word will strengthen you. And it will. Through God’s Word you learn of His salvation for mankind. You learn that truly there is NOTHING new under the sun. The difference is when you read the Word of God and You learn that “God so loved the world that He gave His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) You not only live under the sun, you live under HIS SON. And as you continue in the reading of the Word of God (the Bible) you learn to grow in Him. IT IS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL BOOK FOR LIFE.
Do you want hope? READ IT. Do you want strength? READ the Word of God. Do you want UNSPEAKABLE joy? Yep – it’s in there too. Your Father wrote you the MOST amazing love letter – it was written with you in mind. READ it. I pray you will… And here is the thing – it TRULY is the Living Word. Holy Spirit will bring things to your attention that you never saw before – EVERY TIME you open it up! A Word JUST for you! For whatever you are going through, for whatever you need. Why? Because God had it written with YOU in mind. Why? BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. He really truly does… How do I know that? Because my Bible tells me so… (And it will you too 😉 )
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