Post by Cindy on May 5, 2016 10:26:46 GMT -5
The Scriptures are like good food—sweeter even than honey (Psalm 119:103). Do God’s words delight and strengthen you every day?
To learn how to use the Bible to get to know your heavenly Father and his love for you, start by asking the Spirit to speak to you through the Bible—to use the Bible to connect you to God. In the midst of temptation, the Spirit then will be able to use God’s own words to remind you who God is, how much he loves you, and how pleasing him is the best thing—better than whatever sin you are tempted to commit. Memorize Bible passages that will help you see Christ more clearly. A great passage to start memorizing is Philippians 2:1–11. Here Paul reminds us of who we are in Christ and calls us to treat others the same way Jesus has treated us. Instead of making others the place where you find acceptance, comfort, and love, this passage teaches that Christ came to deal with a deeper need than human approval. He came so you might receive and live in the reality of His forgiveness and comfort.
Meditating on Scripture also includes persistent prayer in light of the Scripture. God gave you the Bible to help you know him, and prayer is how that relationship becomes real and meaningful.
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:1–11)
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word. Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.” (Psalm 119:97–112)
Heart of the matter: Daily reflections for changing hearts and lives
To learn how to use the Bible to get to know your heavenly Father and his love for you, start by asking the Spirit to speak to you through the Bible—to use the Bible to connect you to God. In the midst of temptation, the Spirit then will be able to use God’s own words to remind you who God is, how much he loves you, and how pleasing him is the best thing—better than whatever sin you are tempted to commit. Memorize Bible passages that will help you see Christ more clearly. A great passage to start memorizing is Philippians 2:1–11. Here Paul reminds us of who we are in Christ and calls us to treat others the same way Jesus has treated us. Instead of making others the place where you find acceptance, comfort, and love, this passage teaches that Christ came to deal with a deeper need than human approval. He came so you might receive and live in the reality of His forgiveness and comfort.
Meditating on Scripture also includes persistent prayer in light of the Scripture. God gave you the Bible to help you know him, and prayer is how that relationship becomes real and meaningful.
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:1–11)
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word. Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.” (Psalm 119:97–112)
Heart of the matter: Daily reflections for changing hearts and lives
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