Do You Love God’s Word?
God has proved His love to us over and over again; God loves us enough to warn us; instructs us; die for us; overcome hell and death for us, and He rose for us! God loves us unconditionally. Why would we not love Him back passionately and unconditionally? Why do we struggle in how to live with Jesus and how to love Jesus?
Let’s read the words of Psalm 119:97-100:
“Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for your commands are my constant guides. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.”
Would you love God more if He gave us what we wanted when we wanted it? Is our love based on our hidden expectations? If God gave us only good gifts, then we will love God more? Why should we love His Word with His commandments, directives, or boundaries?
Here are a couple of fundamental reasons why we love God, love His words, commands, directives, or boundaries:
1. Because if we don’t love His Word, we will end up destroying our lives.
Proverbs 13:13 says, “He who despises the Word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God’s commands and grow rich” (The Message).
People who ignored God’s Word and chose to live outside the boundaries of the Bible will end up living life selfishly, narcissistically, and recklessly. God’s Word is our protection.
2. Because if we don’t love His Word, we will end up destroying the lives of those around us.
King David is an example of someone who chooses to live outside of God’s boundaries. The results were disastrous.
2 Samuel 12:7-8 says, “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?’“
God gave us commandments because He loves us and knows what is best for us. If we choose to live outside of these directives, then we will affect those around us. Our disobedience will splash over onto the ones we care about.
3. Because we will end up emotionally and spiritually bankrupt if we don’t love His Word.
Psalm 119:92-94 says, “If your law hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for you have used them to restore my joy and health. I am yours; save me! For I have applied myself to obey your commandments.”
Following God’s Word is trusting God’s Word over and over again. If we trust in the Word of God, the Bible says we will receive blessings over and over again!
The Blessing of Wisdom: Psalm 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
Knowing What is Right and Wrong: Psalm 19:8-9 says, “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”
A Great Reward: Psalm 19:10-11, “More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.”
I don’t know how I can make it in life without something greater than me, sustaining me and keeping me going. I need the strength of the Lord’s Word to lean on and the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth. The Word of God is the most precious, valuable, eternal, lifesaving gift.
In love with His Word,
Pastor Steve