This Sunday, Pastor Adam focused on the importance of scripture in our lives. In our busy life, scripture brings of closer to our Father, keeps us nearer to Him, and remains a part of our firm foundation in Him. As followers of Christ, it is up to us to have scripture a part of our lives, like Jesus did. God gave us these words not only to live by, but to read, memorize and meditate on. Pastor Adam reminded us on Sunday of the importance of reading scripture daily, so that His word is put into our heart, and God will remind us of those words at a needed time.
Personally, I like the example given on Sunday about the story of Jesus when he went into the wilderness and was tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and nights, and the devil tempted him by saying, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered,” It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4: 3-4). This example of Jesus using scripture as a response to the devil shows me how powerful scripture is and how important it is in our lives. Like Pastor Adam reminded us, Jesus’ life was built on scripture and ours can be too.
On Sunday, we were given the following list about the importance of scripture in our life:
See the value of scripture
Imagine our souls having multiple touches with God’s word each day and look at the value it can bring to our lives.
Set realistic expectations
Just take one step at a time with your interaction in scripture
Stay open to correction
His word will convict us, shape us, and mold us.
Soak rather than skim
You want your life saturated with His word.
Seek Transformation, not just information.
Ask God to lead you to Jesus.
This week we will focus on scripture and what it can do for you. Read and let His words make a difference in your life. What you read one day may not affect you that same day, but it will one day and definitely shape your life in the future.
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Monday: Scripture – part of Jesus’ daily life
Thank you for taking time in your day to read this Ten Minutes with God devotional. When we spend quality time with our Father and in scripture, we are sustaining our firm foundation with our Father. We want to have the same foundation that Jesus had, rooted in scripture.
Reading scripture doesn’t have to take up an entire hour or ten minutes, it can be even two minutes a day. It’s important just to read scripture, rather you read one verse or an entire chapter of the Bible.
In John 7:15, Jesus went to the temple courts to teach, and “The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” Jesus knew His Father’s words, and he “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Don’t you want to grow in wisdom like Jesus? Do we want to grow in favor with God and man?
Reflection/ Action: Find one verse or one passage in your Bible today; you choose. Spend a few minutes reading the verse or passage. Sometimes I just like to get my paper Bible and just open it to one random page and see where God leads me that day.
Let Him lead you today. Read and open your heart to His words. Like Pastor Adam mentioned, we want to experience the transformational power of scripture, which allows us to be more like Jesus. Thank your Father today for allowing you this time spent in His Word. Pray that he continues to lead you into His word daily.
Tuesday: Scripture – making it a daily part of your daily life
A few years ago, I visited the Biblical Museum in Dallas, TX. There, I came across this beautiful painting titled, “Not by Bread Alone,” by artist, Edwin Lester.
I immediately fell in love with this painting. This painting based on Matthew 4, is a beautiful portrayal of the importance of God’s Word. In order to live a life like Jesus, we can’t survive without His word. His Word will sustain us. As Pastor Adam shared Sunday, we need to let the word of God get in us, in a transformational way.
Reflection/ Action: Read Matthew 4: 1-4. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Spend time in prayer today after reading the passage above. Allow His words to sink in. Repeat to yourself, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Like Pastor Adam said, “getting you into scripture, is getting scripture into you.” Thank our Heavenly Father for His word. If you are having difficulty understanding scripture, pray that the Lord will open your mind, so you have a better understanding. (Luke 24:45).
Wednesday – The Value of Scripture
According to Billy Graham, “The Bible is not an option; it is a necessity. You cannot grow spiritually strong without it.” “Yet many Christians are spiritually starved and weak because they ignore the spiritual “food” God has provided in the Bible.”
Job stayed devoted to God despite much adversity. In Job 23:12 he said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” We need to desire His words and take time to meet with God daily. We need to treasure His Words. Those interactions with Him, no matter how long or short, will shape us in our lives.
Reflection/ Action: Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Like Graham says, we need to take time today to “discover who He is and what he wants to do in our lives.” His words just may look like words on a page but remind yourself that His words are there for us. Thank Him for His words today. Thank Him for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training us with His words. Thank our heavenly Father for His words that are equipping us for every good work.
Thursday – Setting Realistic Expectations
As I listened to this week’s message, some the words that I marinated on include “sustain,” “draw near,” and “dwell.” All of these words describe our closeness to our Father.
Webster defines ‘sustain’ as “to keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure…” God is our sustainer; He does exactly as the definition.
We need to draw ourselves nearer to our Father as in James 4:8, which reads, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” It is up to us to seek Him and draw near to Him.
We need to set realistic expectations about our time in scripture and our time with God. Sometimes I have to challenge myself to continue reading books of the Bible. Sometimes it’s a lot easier to follow a short bible reading plan on the Bible app. Consider your time; what time can you devote daily to Him and scripture?
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 3: 16-19. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
Pray to our heavenly Father, who is our sustainer. Ask God to come near to you, as you seek Him. Pray that He will continue to dwell in your heart. Pray about the time that you will devote to scripture and His word. Pray about your next step in growing closer to Him.
Friday – Stay Open to Correction
A few days ago, we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” We must keep in mind that His correction is “loving correction,” and is for our good.
Just as a child gets upset with their parent’s correction, we too as adults can get bothered when corrected. I personally get roweled up when I know someone is correcting me with ill intentions. When corrected, we often get our feelings hurt too. We must remind ourselves that His correction is coming from a good place, a loving place. As Pastor Adam shared on Sunday, “When we read His word to seek Him, He will convict us - shape us, mold us.”
Reflection/ Action: Read Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Spend time in prayer today and seek Him and His loving guidance. Remind yourself His correction is good. Thank Him for His words as we continue to spend time daily with Him. He is our teacher, and His word is truth (John 17:17). Ask your heavenly Father to open your eyes and heart to His guidance, His truth.
Saturday – Soak in His Word and Seek Transformation
This week we have been focusing on scripture and how important it is for us to be in His word. Like Billy Graham said, “You cannot grow spiritually strong without it.”
We don’t want to speed read through His words in the Bible; we need to soak them in. Think about His words, marinate on them. Spending time in His word will allow us to transform ourselves from the inside out. His words are transforming.
I read a devotional by Pastor Dean Deppe who shared that, “In this way the Word of God initiates a four-step process of transformation. Put simply, teaching tells us what is right, rebuke tells us what is not right, correction tells us how to get right, and training shows us how to stay right. The Holy Scriptures are the breath of God. If you want to be productive, useful, and fertile as a Christian, get into the Word of God.”
Reflection/ Action: Read Colossians 3:16. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Spend time in prayer, thanking God for His Word. Just as Jesus spoke, He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Seek Him as you devote time daily to scripture.
Ask God to saturate your life with His Word. Ask God to lead you as you take in His words and allow His words to transform you. I pray that His message will dwell in you. Amen.