The Gift of God’s Word

It’s the beginning of the year – which means that many of us are making resolutions and setting goals. For Christians, a common goal is to read more of the Bible in the upcoming year. This might look like a read through the Bible in a year plan. Or perhaps signing up for a Bible study. Or even resolving to read one verse a day and pray through it.

Wanting to read more of the Bible is wonderful! It is after all God’s Word – and we know these things (and more!) to be true about God’s Word:

In the beginning God spoke – making all things with his Word (Genesis 1). At the perfectly ordained time, The Word became flesh in the form of Jesus and dwelt among us (John 1). We know that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And we know that ¹² the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

These are a few really good reasons to know God’s Word and to resolve to read it more this year!

But regardless of how excited you are to read your Bible more this year – I promise you there will come a day when you don’t feel like reading the Bible.

You will wake up tired.  

You’ll have a to-do list that feels insurmountable.

Surprises will pop up.

Illness. Grocery store runs.

Soccer practice, dance recitals, medical appointments.

Church commitments, and ministry obligations.

You’ll want to spend time with your family, your friends.

Those things will either look more important or feel more enjoyable. And you’ll be very tempted to set aside your reading goals for the year.

You’ll say things like, “I don’t want to be too legalistic anyway”.

“Jesus is about grace, right?!”

“I can always read it tomorrow – or catch up next week.”

And that’s true – there is grace upon grace in Jesus. And yes, you can read tomorrow.

But I want to encourage you that when we put Scripture at the bottom of our list – we risk missing one of the most personal ways that God wants to interact with us.

Last summer we took our girls to Young Life Family Camp in Colorado. While we were there the book of Ephesians was quoted numerous times. And a quiet voice in my heart told me to read the whole book for myself.

But I ignored it.

I was at camp.

There was so much to do! I didn’t want to spend the day reading. I wanted to play outside with my girls and explore with Rob. Besides, there was an evening worship and teaching time – God could speak to me there.

When camp was done we drove over to Colorado Springs where we spent another week seeing family and enjoying the cooler summer weather (we live in San Antonio!). On Sunday we went to church with my Aunt and Uncle, and their pastor spoke from Ephesians.

Again that quiet voice told me to read Ephesians. But there was so much to do. And we were monitoring Alice who was beginning to show some strange health symptoms.

Then one morning I noticed in a church email that our women’s ministry was going to be studying Ephesians in the fall.

That quiet voice had gotten louder. I knew I needed to be reading God’s Word – specifically Ephesians.

So in the middle of our vacation I packed up my Bible and journal and headed to a coffee shop to be alone. I started to read. And as I read, God’s Words lifted off the pages…

Promise after promise, blessing after blessing, lists of God’s graciousness in our lives.

I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to sit and savor each word. I wanted to spend all day basking in the gifts that God had given me and let Him grow thankfulness, and wonder, and humility in my heart.

Over the next few days and as we returned home I continued slowly pouring over Ephesians.

On August 22^nd, we were back home and settled. The strange symptoms Alice had on the trip were gone and she was feeling good. I had a long list of things to do that day – including taking her in for a follow up with her pediatrician. I could easily have skipped reading God’s Word that morning. But I knew that I needed it. He had made it clear that I was supposed to be reading Ephesians. So that morning, I pressed on.

The verses for that day were Ephesians 3:14-21 (emphasis mine)

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Strength, love, rooted, grounded, filled with all fullness of God… to him who can do more than I can even imagine… those were the words and phrases the Lord, in his kindness, impressed on my heart that morning.

Later that day, after a pediatrician appointment, and then follow up tests at the hospital, we got the call.

The one where our doctor said that there was a tumor. And cancer. And that things were about to move in super sonic speed.

But I was strengthened. I was loved. I was rooted and grounded. I was filled with the fullness of God. I had literal lists of God’s good gifts to me. And I had promises upon promises that the Lord could do far more abundantly than I ask. He would be glorified forever and ever through each step we took.

I can’t think of a better message to be given as armor for my heart and my head in the days that came after.

Was I still in shock – yes! Was I still afraid – yes! Was I still anxious and unable to sleep and uncertain of the road before us – of course! I am human.

But under all of that. At the deepest level of my soul – these truths had embedded themselves.

I am so thankful that I stuck with God’s Word. I am so thankful that God spoke to my heart, nudging me to pick up His Word – even on vacation – even when my to-do list was full – even when I didn’t think I “needed” those encouraging words.

He knew.

He knew what was ahead.

So, if you’ve made plans to be in God’s Word more this year – be excited! He has great things in store. Even on the days you don’t want to, even when you worry if it’s really the best use of your time. I promise you it is. God’s Word is alive and active. It is living. It speaks. It imparts wisdom and truth. It changes us while showing us the unchangeable God. It is purposeful and intentional. It speaks to our hearts and changes our thoughts. It will convict you, encourage you and prepare you.

Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it..”

You are in for such a treat!

Love, Marissa