UCB Word for Today says so clearly how vital God's word is for all of us who choose to walk with Jesus day by day. ‘True understanding comes from God' – it’s a gift that only He can give. That’s why Solomon asked God for understanding instead of relying on his own. And God will bestow understanding on us through His word. ‘For the Lord gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NET). David said, ‘Through Your precepts I get understanding,’ (Psalm 119:104)
The Bible was written that we might have understanding and be able to interpret life in the way that God does. Paul wrote much of the New Testament under the instruction of the Holy Spirit. He told Timothy: ‘Consider what I say and the Lord will give you understanding in all things’. (2 Timothy 2:7 KJV) As we immerse ourselves in the Bible, God speaks to us. In essence, He says: ‘This is how I see it and this is how I want you to see it.’ In other words, He gives us His insight into the situation. In the Bible we can discover how to become truly successful. We can find the answer to our emotional troubles, how to cure worry and how to solve relationship problems. It can direct us in our family relationships – especially in the home, between husband and wife, and any children. It contains the cure for nervousness and depression. It’s even a purging tool for removing sin from our minds and hearts.
‘How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to Your instructions! With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from Your commands! In my heart I store up Your words, so I might not sin against You.’ (Psalm 119:9-11 NET)
In short, the Bible is the greatest success manual in the world! The psalmist said, ‘The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple’. (Psalm 119:130) So, if you want true understanding, meditate on the scriptures today.
True diversity
There is so much variety in the Bible, just as there is so much variety amongst human beings. God the creator never used a factory assembly line with people all made from the same mould. We do not all like the same things, discover a relationship with God in the same way, respond to the Holy Spirit in the same way, talk with Jesus in the same way, or worship in the same way. No! When we join the body of Christ, we are all one in Him, but we each have a unique part to play.
Each of us choosing to do this study bears a unique impression of the Godhead in us. (Genesis 1:27) As we look at other believers, let us ask God to see them from His perspective. We need God’s eyes to see others as His children. Jesus was constantly moved with compassion when He looked at crowds and, when looking at His disciples, teaching them and preparing them for the calling of God on their lives, He loved them passionately enough to tell them the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:25) Yet, He could also look at Judas, knowing that he was stealing regularly from the group of disciples and had the potential to betray Him, but never bringing Judas' activities to the attention of the other disciples. That truly is amazing grace.
Useful to God
As we look at the ‘Men of God’ in these studies, we shall see an amazing variety of men: all very different, all playing vital roles for the kingdom of God but not all of them living pure lives. Perhaps we may feel that, because we messed up in the past or are still not living entirely as we should, our Father cannot use us in His kingdom. However, as we go through each study and look at these mens' lives, we can identify with some of them and receive guidance and encouragement for our own lives. We shall see that God wants to use each one of us in His plans - great or small.
We shall need to make time for doing these studies, not just reading the notes but really focusing on the Bible verses and listening in our hearts to what Father God is saying to us. We shall get out of this what we are prepared to put into it, with prayer and meditative thought, to really make the most of what we are discovering. The word of God is most effective in our lives when we take it into our hearts, allowing it to soak our thoughts and emotions, dealing with any anxieties and casting any cares or concerns onto Him. Let's ask Jesus for an eternal perspective on what we are reading and resolve to obey any changes He calls us to make.
Look forward to sharing with other people in your Joy for Life group and you will find it so refreshing to see things from different eyes. This is how God's word becomes living and active', sharper than any double-edged sword, cutting between the bone and marrow'. (Hebrews 4:12) You might have read the same passage a year ago but now you wonder how you missed what you see today. That is the excitement of studying His word with the insight of the Holy Spirit and a zeal to know Him better.
So, lets get on and get started, planning the time that we shall need to give to our reading of the notes and answering the home challenges weekly.
‘Open my eyes, Lord, to see wonderful things in Your word.’ (Psalm 119:18)
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