Treasure His Word- Lavish Day 8

Every pilot knows that to fly a plane and land successfully, you need the air traffic controller to lead, guide and direct you through the radio. The pilots literally depend on the guidance of the air traffic controller. The reason we turn off our phones on the plane is so that our cell signals don’t interfere with the radio signals and hamper communication between the pilot and the tower. Pilots that fly commercial planes are typically very experienced and have flown and landed planes several times. However, every pilot knows that each flight is different, and it would be foolhardy to rely on their own wisdom or past experience to navigate the flight path.

It’s the same thing with us as human beings. We weren’t designed to live life by making random guesses. God is our guide. One of the primary ways he guides us is through His written word. The Bible is chock full of wisdom and guidance. The scriptures reveal the complete character of God and the way He wants us to live.

'Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord . Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord ; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. '

Psalms 119:1-16

Psalms 119 shows the heart posture of someone who treasures the word of God and depends on it for daily living. I know reading the Bible consistently is something a lot of people struggle with. I think the major reason is that we don’t know why we’re supposed to read it. In the absence of a strong motivating reason, it’s easy to let it slip by and even I am guilt of this.

A lot of people ask how they can know how much God loves them. Honestly, the easiest place to start is the Bible. I remember when I became a Christian, one of the first books of the Bible that I read was the Book of John. I was literally in awe. It helped me understand a lot about my new faith, about who Jesus is, about how he lived, how he died, his resurrection and what that means for me. I remember reading the words on those pages and weeping because I couldn’t believe that God loved humanity so much that he left heaven to come to the earth and die for us.

' “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. '

John 3:16-18

I read chapters of the Old Testament and it was so awesome to see how the prophecies foretold Christ. Reading the Bible and treasuring the word of God helped me to understand my faith a lot more and be more confident about what I believed.

Another interesting thing that started to happen as I read the Bible was that my behaviour started to become better. Without trying, I noticed that as I read the word, journalled about it and thought about what I read, I became more patient, more tolerant, more forgiving and more Christ like in general. In fact, this was the major reason I truly believed that I was saved haha. I saw myself transform before my very eyes. All because I treasured the word of God. I took every word of God literally and claimed the promises in scripture. If God said, “My sheep hear my voice”, then it had to be true because God does not lie. So I started to listen for His voice and He taught me how to recognise it. If I hadn’t seen it in the scriptures, I wouldn’t have known it was possible.

People often ask how they can study the word and be really good at it. I think you have to start from the basics. Just read. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you as you read. Read it like a book. You can start from the beginning. Write what you learn everyday. One chapter every day is enough to transform your life. To read His word, and believe it, is to treasure it.