God's Word

Believers talk to God through prayer and listen to Him though His Word. The Bible is His divinely inspired Word.  My focus here is on God's Word.

My first memory verse is:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful in teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

God did not physically write the Bible himself.  Instead, the scriptures have been written by the hand of man, but divinely inspired by God.

As believers we accept the Bible as God's truth and the revelation to man of God's character. Though written over a period of over 1500 years, on 3 continents, and by more than 40 men, the Bible remains inerrant.  Neither does it contain contraction.  

When we read the Bible, we should read it expectantly, listening to God as He speaks to us. Sometimes we are convicted of a sin that God makes known to us.  Other times we are uplifted by His love for us. We may receive guidance in times of difficulty and support in times of sorrow.

My second memory verse is:

"Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you will be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8

In this verse, Joshua refers to the "Book of the Law" or the Torah.  We know this writing as the first five books of the Bible, God's divinely inspired Word, written by Moses.

Don't let it "depart from your mouth", but keep it on your lips each day.

We are commanded to meditate and to do it.  Read God's Word.  As you read, listen, allowing God to speak to you through His Word.  

But meditation is not enough.  We are tasked to "do everything in it." This means that God wants us to apply His Word that He speaks to us to our lives.  He wants us to live obediently.  

Yes God wants us to live obediently, but look at our benefit. The result will be that we will live lives of prosperity and success!  

Our grandmother has a wonderful poem entitled The Bible.

O Word of God eternal, preserv'd through all the ages,
O gift of God supernal, with wisdom on thy pages.
O lamp of life, so radiant, shed light upon my way,
O pow'r of God, invariant, save souls today, I pray.

O book of inspiration, by the Holy Spirit sent,
God's message of salvation, for the whole wide world 'twas meant.
O word of revelation, the love of Christ revealing,
The one book of creation, no act of God concealing.

O sword of God, so piercing, that severs joints and marrow,
The love of God rehearsing, who cares e'en for a sparrow.
O wonderful discerner, of the thoughts of ev'ry heart
Oh, let me be a leaner of every sacred part.

O hammer of God, that breaks the stubborn and stony heart,
O comfort of heart that aches, with balm for every smart;
O wonderful Word of God, unerring and unfailing,
Applied to my sinful heart is sure and all availing.

Cordelia Hawkins Gatewood

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for Your Word.  We thank You that You speak to us through Your Scriptures.  We lift up Your Name in praise and thanksgiving for all of Your many gifts. We pray in the name of Christ. amen