As a child of God, the book which we should enjoy the most is the Bible, the Word of God. We should enjoy reading it more than anything else. We should love to read it and know it thoroughly. It is like God’s love letters to us. In my opinion, we should long for it more than we long for news in the newspapers, news in the neighbourhood and news in the non-essential things of life. Of course, to be down to earth, we need news around us and news around the world to be living realistically on this planet Earth. Being a child of God, we have different priority and inclination. Like Job in the Old Testament, we should treasure the Word of God in this manner: “I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. (Job 23:12 ESV). Like Jeremiah in the Old Testament, we should crave for the Word of God joyfully and delightfully in this manner: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16 ESV)
The Word of God is described as a two-edged (double-edged) sword in Hebrews 4:12 ESV, “For 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.” Whenever we read the Word of God, we not only discover God more but we also discover ourselves more. The Word of God is able to convince us of the truths of God and convict us of the sins of mankind. It is like a sword for the battle. In the book of Ephesian, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. So, as we are always engaging in a spiritual warfare, we need the sword of the Spirit.
The Word of God is described as a mirror in the book of James. In James 1:22, the Word of God states “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Like a mirror, the Word of God reveals your true self to you and urges you to do something about it. You cannot ignore the conviction of the Word. You have to respond to it. The concept of a mirror is vividly described in James 1:22-25. Lives have been touched and transformed through the reading of the Bible, being convicted of their sins and realising their need of Christ through the mighty working power of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God is also described as a lamp in the book of Psalm. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (see Psalm 119:105). It enables us to know where we are going and how we are walking. I really like this Bible verse in Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” Having God’s Word in our lives, our ways will be pure. When we walk according to the Word of God, our lives will be transformed.
The Word of God is also described as a fire and a hammer in the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 23:29, the Word of God states “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” We are to honour the Word of God and use it wisely. The Word of God will consume the wicked ones and destroy them. No one can withstand the Word of God. See what God said in Jeremiah 23:30-31, “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the LORD.’ We cannot afford to misuse and misinterpret the Word of God. God will punish the one who distorts His Word.
So, let us treat the Word of God with high regard and respect. Let us have the right attitude towards the Word of God, the Bible. Let us enjoy reading it and desire to know it thoroughly and henceforth, live our lives according to its instructions. Let us also be doers of the Word rather than hearers only. It is my earnest prayer that we will treasure the Word of God in our hearts.
