OK! So you’ve read Read the Word! parts 1 and 2…now your curious to know what is the very best part, when we read the word?
The Bible isn’t only the most effective, powerful, and life-changing book there is. It’s not only crazy-great exposure to His words, His ideas, His example, His commands, His perspective, and His mighty work.
It is so much more than what we might glean on any certain day. We don’t read just to feel better, to get that day’s boost, or encouragement, although we usually do gain personal enrichment.
Reading God’s Word is much more, still!
We Get To Bless…
We are daily invited to be like Mary of old, sitting at the feet of Jesus, drinking in every word, basking in His presence. And in so doing, we mere mortals affect the eternal God.
“And she had a sister called Mary, who also, having sat down at the feet of the Lord, was listening to His word.”
Luke 10:39
God!
What do you think the Lord Jesus thought of that, Mary listening like she did? How do you think God is affected by the love and adoration of His people, today? We don’t have to guess! Scripture helps us find out! Here are two passages from the gospels:
When Martha, Mary’s sister, was irritated at Mary for being rather thoughtless and lazy, by lingering at the feet of Jesus, she received a just correction. No, indeed, Martha. Mary stays right were she is.
‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord replied, ‘you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary.
Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.’
Luke 10:41-42
When the woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment, breaking the flask and pouring it over His head, she was reproved for the display, for the waste, Jesus had something to say about that, too. No, indeed, men. Leave her alone. What she is doing is too precious for you to even comprehend. This beautiful act will be remembered for good.
…And they scolded her.
But Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone; why are you bothering her?
She has done a beautiful deed to Me…She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.
And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’
Mark 14:5b, 6, 8-9 (Berean)
Her love affected the Lord Jesus. We can be assured that our love affects Him, as well.
And that, has to be, the most significant thing about reading God’s Word, the Holy Bible.
We bless our Lord. We can bless God!
Our attention to His message and our response to His Holy Spirit to come, dine with Him, learn from Him…this makes Him glad.
Bringing God Joy
Imagine what it must be like to be God…to see His precious children as they read the Bible. What is His perspective?
He knows what He wrote. He knows you, too. He sees you reading it. He knew you’d show up today.
He knows what’s on your mind, what’s troubling you, and how you long for this or that.
He sees you open His book, you, the son or daughter for which He died.
Imagine the pleasure His children bring Him when they place value upon that thing for which He’s worked so hard to create, preserve and present to His people for their good and for His work on earth.
Are we not all too apt to seek Him because of our need, rather than for His joy and pleasure? …Are we not in danger of forgetting that pleasing God means giving Him pleasure?
Hudson Taylor (Union and Communion With Christ)
What a privilege it is, to cause Father-God pleasure. Kind of amazing, right? And that, is the best motivation of all, I think. We read to please Him. Because we love Him.
Some Metaphors
Before we close out our three-part series “Read the Word”, here are a few gems that God has told us, about who He is. He is generous, and creative, utilizing many metaphors to help explain Himself to our finite minds. Through the Bible we can:
- Meet Truth (John 14:6).
- See Light (John 8:12)
- View Love (1 John 4:16).
- Feast on the Bread (John 6:35).
- Arm ourselves with the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)
- Meet the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
- Meet the Life, (John 14:6) and
- Meet the author of life (1 Timothy 6:1)
And More
Ready for more? Wanna dive in? Hurray! Click on over to Studying God’s Word.