Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
More to be desired are they [i.e., God’s words] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb (Psalm 19:10).
The Word of God is a priceless gift we have in our hands: do you cherish it? Do you go to the Scriptures for soul food? Do you study and meditate, do you listen to the Lord and respond in prayer? Is the Bible sweet to you—is it treasure? There is more to the Christian life than joyfully diligent Bible study, but certainly never less!
Of course, Satan is always tempting us to bypass God’s Word:
- “There’s no time for serious Bible study in my schedule.”
- “I’m no scholar—it’s too hard to understand.”
- “The Bible doesn’t inspire me—it’s not relevant to my life.”
Those are just a few of Satan’s deceptions. I hope you don’t fall for them! We all make time for food, right? Well, skipping the Bible is like asking for spiritual starvation. The daily news is relevant, right? How much more pertinent to your life and eternal joy is the news of God’s greatness and grace? Always remember: we grow in understanding as we reflect and meditate and “think over” (not breeze over!) what God says (2 Timothy 2:7).
Bottom line: authentic Christianity involves trusting in Christ—we’re saved by faith (Eph 2:8-10). But how is faith generated and sustained? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Reading and wrestling with the Bible is essential for growing in faith; as we spend time with Jesus Christ via the pages of Scripture, the Lord arouses faith / trust / devotion in our hearts. By contrast, failing to dig deep in God’s Word and study it carefully erodes faith.
Let’s be candid: Does the Bible receive your undivided, eager attention on a regular basis, and are you involved in groups or classes that help you dig deep into the wonders of Scripture? Or are you walking away from Christ? It’s one or the other.
