I once had a lawyer I had the privilege of discipling that would always ask me "What's the purpose of the exercise?" Great question. So, why would I get up early every morning and meet with God? What's the point of reading and studying the Bible over and over again?
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord… (Proverbs 22:17-19)
THE ADMONITION
God uses strong words to encourage us to come to Him through His word daily.
INCLINE YOUR HEAR
We must move in that direction. You will never discover God and all He is and says if you do not read; if you do not get in a position to hear; if you do not "incline your ear."
HEAR THE WORDS OF THE WISE
It's possible, isn't it, to listen but never hear. We must listen carefully.
APPLY YOUR MIND TO MY KNOWLEDGE
We must engage our minds. We must give ourselves to study if it is to be of benefit. No mindless, careless reading of God's word, but careful study.
KEEP THEM WITHIN YOU
Not only should we be in a position to hear and diligently listen and apply our minds, but we must digest the Word so that it literally becomes a part of us.
One of the ways we do this is by journaling. Studies show that we retain a vastly greater amount of what we're studying when we write it down and see it. This process forces us to engage our minds and hearts at an entirely different level than just reading. Another key to this is memorizing the Scripture and meditating throughout the day on what God has said.
THE PURPOSE
SO THAT THEY MAY BE READY ON YOUR LIPS
God wants His truth to change your life, but also equip you to be used to change the lives of others! He wants His truths shared. I cannot tell you how many times God has shown me something in His word in the morning that was EXACTLY what someone else needed that day.
SO THAT YOUR TRUST MAY BE IN THE LORD
It's always about dependence. God's great goal is to move us from an independent life to a dependent life; from a trust in ourselves to trust in Him; to FAITH. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God," Paul said. Nothing builds our faith like growing in our knowledge of the faithfulness, the integrity, the soundness, and the promises of God.
Some may say "Why would you give yourself diligently to daily read and study God's Word?" I would say, "How can you live without it?" It is the most important part of every common day!
Father, help me see the value of Your Word so greatly that I pursue it greatly. Let me be driven by an insatiable desire to know You and trust You. Help me understand that this only grows by listening to You daily. Help me lay aside other pursuits that I may know You!
In each generation there are wicked rulers leading nations to do wicked things, oppressing those around them with senseless violence and evil. Hitler had his day and Stalin, and now Putin as he ravages Ukraine.
Where is God in all of this? The small, one-chapter book of Obadiah gives us the answer: God will always, ultimately judge wicked men nations. Justice wins the day. Notice God’s word through Obadiah to the wicked nation of Edom. No nation that ignores God will escape His judgment.
