January 26th
“20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ” John 14:20-24 NIV
Have you ever wondered how to show your love for God? Jesus answered that question in the above passage. We show our love for God by “having” his commandments in our hearts and obeying them in daily life.
God created us with a conscience to distinguish right from wrong. It serves as our “internal law” (Romans 2:14-16). Our conscience can be weakened and dulled by sin that we tolerate in our lives. To re-sharpen our conscience, God has given us his written word (the Bible) and the Holy Spirit to coach and guide us according to the word.
The scriptures reveal the specifics of God’s commands that will help us make the right decisions in daily living. Consider the analogy of the holy cup to illustrate. Our minds are like cups with holes in the bottom. The word is like water poured into the cups. The water eventually drains out of the cups after each filling. In order to keep the cup filled, we must keep filling it with water. Likewise, we must keep filling our minds with the word each day, so that God’s commands are on our thoughts.
Some people find reading the Bible difficult and even boring. Some ways to make Bible study interesting and fun include:
- Ask God to reveal himself through the scripture you read for that day
- Try different types of studies. Examples include: a character study on a notable person in the Bible, a topical study, a study on particular words of interest, chronological study (a Psalm or Proverb a day)
- Invite a friend to do the study with you and then meet to discuss periodically
- Keep a journal of what you have studied and periodically review it to help see how God has been leading you
- Vary the types of scripture you study (Historical, Prophecy, Law, Epistles, Gospels, etc.)
- Study different translations
The Bible can spring to life when you invite God to teach you and reveal his word to you. There is “nothing new under the sun,” as Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9, and the Bible contains a wealth of information about every issue in life. For example, it deals thoroughly with the tough issues involved in sexual addictions. By studying it and applying it, sex addicts can learn how to walk to purity and maintain that purity permanently.
Questions for further thought:
How full is your mind with God’s word? When was the last time you filled it?
What are two benefits that come by living in obedience to God’s commands? (21 & 23 above)
What are some actions you will take to improve your Bible study times?
Prayer:
“Lord God, thank you for giving me your written word and the Holy Spirit. I commit to improving my Bible study times in the following ways: _________________. Please help me to stick with this commitment. Please guide me and reveal yourself to me through your word and the Holy Spirit. I desire to live for you, Lord. Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”