More reasons to STUDY God’s word DAILY, part 2

Please read the previous blog before this one. I want to continue the theme with more reasons to study the Word of God. The BIGGEST reason—and what our ULTIMATE GOAL should be in Bible Study - - is in the previous blog.  That biggest reason is to come to know not just the Book, but the Author of the Book. We search the scriptures daily to find life – by coming to our Savior Yeshua, whose very name means Salvation. We diligently study the Word so we see Christ revealed more and more. When you read of physical things, see if they might be pointing to Yeshua. So many things do. ALL the items in the tabernacle for example, pointed to Christ. So the first reason is to come to know Him intimately, to see Him revealed, to build a closer walk with Messiah. But one can’t give all the possible answers in one short blog. So here are more good reasons on why we should be digging into God’s word every single day. (I fear too many of my brothers and sisters aren’t digging in the word of God every day. Are YOU?)

Read the rest of this short essay to help motivate you to dig into the treasure trove that is God’s word – every single day.

The reasons we study God’s word go beyond the obvious reason to get more information, to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. And remember from the last blog: let’s use the information to help achieve the transformation, as Christ is being formed in us. Remember, our primary focus is on TRANSFORMATION, not just information.

Now let’s look at more reasons to study the Word every single day.

When we pray, we’re speaking to God. When we study His Word, that’s GOD SPEAKING TO US.

I like to pray for inspiration and correction before I begin. Then listen. Take notes on thoughts that come to you as you read and study. Don’t study just to find some new interesting tidbit or new Greek or Hebrew word. That’s always interesting, but study from the point of view of wanting to hear Father speak to you directly – His son or daughter. You. Ask Father to open your mind to see and hear HIM as you read.

Daily BIBLE STUDY is like picking up the DAILY MANNA, first thing in the day, before it got hot and melted in the sun.

I have a whole sermon that develops this topic – Your Daily Manna, given May 2004.

We are to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and its righteousness. God won’t just slide into first place. We have to put Him as first in our life. If you don’t have time, rearrange your life priorities. Get to bed earlier so you can get up earlier. Cut out a lot of that Facebook time, and email and TV. Spend more time with your Abba in heaven instead, and go to bed, get up – and put him first. And hear the May 2004 sermon. You’ll learn a lot about manna and how it pictured Yeshua and the Word of God. Remember Yeshua was born in “House of Bread” (that’s what Bethlehem means) and HE said he was the bread from heaven, and put that in context of the manna (John 6:30-40, 57-58).

We study to have the RIGHT DOCTRINE, CORRECTION AND INSTRUCTION.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for reproof, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”.

So if we’re not going to scripture daily, how and when would we be receiving all the above? “Bible study” is not the same as listening to one cd or video after another. I am speaking of you opening the word of God yourself and reading and pondering the words of God, spoken for YOU.

The Bereans searched the scriptures daily, to assure themselves that what they were being taught squared with the scriptures (Acts 17:10-11). How will you know what the truth is, unless you’re in His Word daily? “Thy WORD is truth”, remember. Don’t let up your guard just because a speaker is charismatic, motivational, inspiring, or funny and personable. Satan will speak through anyone God allows him to. Don’t forget Satan inspired David to number Israel, against God’s will (1 Chronicles 21:1). When Peter, a close friend and leading disciple of Messiah, told Jesus he would not have to die – who did Yeshua feel that message was coming from? Peter? No—from Satan. He said to PETER, but spoke to Satan, “Get behind me Satan!” (Matthew 16:22-23). So wrong ideas can come from anyone, even me, so always prove what a person is saying by comparing it to what scripture actually says.

Washing by the word. God’s word is a mirror that shows us where we need to let Christ live more effectively in our lives. When the priests went to the Tabernacle in the wilderness, they would wash in a brazen/bronze bowl or laver, which also doubled as a mirror, before they went to work in their daily ministry. God’s word shows us where we need to repent and where Yeshua needs to still transform us to look and be more and more like He is. Remember it’s for instruction in righteousness.

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD,

that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

John 15:3

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

If we study the word of God, it’s like looking into a mirror and seeing where there’s dirt on our face. We find out there’s some cleaning up to do, and do it. If we don’t, what’s the point of studying or hearing the sermons? Also read Matthew 7:24-27 – building on the Rock – when we DO what we read and study.

James 1:23-25

For if anyone is a hearer of THE WORD and not a DOER, he is like a man observing his natural face in a MIRROR; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a DOER OF THE WORK, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

Many listen to charismatic speakers who make them feel good. “The Way is easy”, they coo. But Christ said the Way was difficult and narrow (Matthew 7:13-14).

Ezekiel 33:30-33

"As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from YHVH.' So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass — surely it will come — then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

There’s so much more one could say about daily Bible study. Be sure you are putting God first. Be sure you ARE reading and studying His holy Word.

1 Peter 1:22-25

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

So start a new habit if you aren’t already putting God first in your life by daily prayer and daily Bible study.

(You may pass this on to others if you think it can help them.)