Can we have an honest chat for a minute? I genuinely love listening to and learning from a podcast like Ten Minute Bible Talks. And savoring a good sermon. Or reading a book that encourages me in my faith.
You know what I’ve found challenging off and on throughout my life more often than I’d like to admit, though? Consistently reading and studying the Bible itself. I know a lot of people feel the same.
Why is that? I think, in part, it’s because we forget the big picture about the Bible. Reading the Bible is not a boring chore, it’s something we get to delight in and meditate on.
Learning from Psalm 1
The very first Psalm gives us part of that big picture about God’s Word. We learn that,
Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law, day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Did you catch that? Those who delight in—who take joy in reading God’s Word—
and those who meditate on—make time to sit with and think about and soak in God’s words—
… those people are blessed and become like a strong tree that is full of life.
A strong tree, full of life
If you live in the mid-Missouri area, you’re probably familiar with what locals call Big Tree. Almost any day of the year, you’ll find people sitting under or taking pictures of this mammoth Burr Oak Tree that happens to be tied as the largest in the nation.
It’s estimated to be over 350 years old. So that means this tree has been through droughts, floods, blizzards, earthquakes, tornados, wars, and numerous lightning strikes…including a recent one that caught it on fire.
How on earth has Big Tree remained alive all these years? It has to do with its extensive root system. These strong roots have kept Big Tree firmly planted and flourishing through all its years of trials and hardships.
Similarly, as we delight in and meditate on God’s truth, we grow deep roots that help us weather the storms of life and keep us close to Jesus until he returns.
But, boy, it’s hard to keep this big picture about reading the Bible in mind on a daily basis. It’s not always a quick hit of daily encouragement when you’re reading an OT book like Leviticus or a genealogy in Matthew. It’s not always easy to understand the historical, cultural, and/or literary meaning of certain passages upon the first glance. Reading the Bible can feel laborious, confusing, and even frustrating at times.
So, let’s think together about 3 reasons (and there are MANY more) why we should delight in and meditate on God’s Word regularly….
1. The Bible is God’s own authoritative words to us.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “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.”
In the Bible, you hold in your hands God’s personal words to his people—written through humans who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. This book that we often ignore is THE go-to place to connect with God and learn the truth about who he is and what he has come to do on earth and in our lives.
2. The Bible is alive and active.
The writer of Hebrews says in 4:12, “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.”
Every other book is stagnant and powerless compared to the Bible. The Bible alone has the power to expose our innermost thoughts and intentions. It shows us our sin even when we can’t see it. Yes, it can be painful and perhaps a bit scary, but also exactly what we NEED to hear…not unlike a doctor diagnosing a deadly cancer inside of us that we can’t see.
But thankfully the Bible doesn’t leave us there…
3. The Bible is the path to life!
God’s authoritative word actively (and often painfully) shows us our sin, and then it leads us to life!
In Psalm 119, the psalmist says, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; And give me life in your ways.”
He goes on to say, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path…I am severely afflicted; give me LIFE, O LORD, according to your word!”
The psalmist knows that we can’t see the way to a flourishing life on our own. He knows our eyes look to “worthless things” and our hearts are prone to wander away from God.
But, when we delight in God’s Word, meditate on it regularly, and follow his commands, we become like the tree from Psalm 1 that’s planted by streams of water and full of life.
That’s because the Bible teaches us how align ourselves more and more with God’s good plan for our life. It ultimately lights our path to the abundant, full life Jesus speaks of when he says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
A prayer for meditating on and delighting in God’s word:
Father, would you give us hearts that delight in your word? Help us to make time each day to meditate on your truth so that it may sink deep down into our hearts, giving us hope and life and a lasting joy that only comes from knowing you. Amen.
What is the best way to start delighting in God’s word? Spend time reading it! Click below for 5 Simple Ways to Connect with God Through His Word.
