More of the Word
Happy New Year to you all, we are all again at the beginning of a new start, a time to look back and a
time to look forward. What will we do with the next 365 days, Lord willing that we would be here in
that length of time? We all have that same length of time of 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. What
will we do with that time? The Psalmist reminds us to “Teach us to number our days that we may
present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) The apostle James said, “life is a vapor", so we do
need to heartily devote ourselves to the study and practice of true wisdom, primarily the wisdom that
is given us in the Holy Scriptures, namely fearing God and keeping His commandments. Reading,
meditating on, and memorizing of this Word of God are like the disciplines that Paul mentions to
Timothy in 1Tim.4:7, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness.”
So, shall we beat a path to the Word of God this year? Now is the time! Not sure how? The weekly
bulletin gives us a starting point, you can follow that to begin with and branch out from there, the
whole Bible in one year, then you can do that next year and the year after and the year after that etc.
In Job 23:12, we see what kind of importance and how valuable the word can be for us.” I have
treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”. In Deut.8:3, “Man does not live by
bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord”. And Rev.1:3,
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophesy, and heed the things which
are written in it, for the time is near”. So, there is much to take in, and so little time it seems to do it.
Life is busy and hectic, and at times chaotic, how are we to beat a path to the Word consistently for
365 days?
A devotional is fine and can and should be used, but systematic, steady, faithful hiding of this Word of
God in our hearts, is definitely the right way to go, and these Bible through the Year reading programs
meet that need. Peter has it right in 1 Peter 2:2-3, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the
word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord”.
Some small things to discipline yourself toward could be waking up in the morning and make it your
goal to beat a path to the Word of God and hear His voice before you hear any others, to turn your
attention to speaking to Him before speaking to anyone else, instead of maybe turning right away to
your phone. This word of God is always for our good and often for our survival. It will quench, dispel,
overcome, those desires we have that are the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and lust of the flesh.
Treasure, delight, cherish, love, desire, those things He has written to you!
John 1:4, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men". John Piper comments, “If you don't beat
the path in the Light, you won't find it in the dark”. So having the right purposes to be in the Word of
God everyday throughout the year, and a good method to stay in the Word of God throughout the
year, we should see that the results that are produced should always be of the highest kind. True
religion I have learned is that there is nothing, nothing at all, is more important than wholehearted and
unqualified obedience to the words of God. The task, the challenge, the year is before us. What will
we do with it, how will we spend it, what will we accomplish with it? Let us ask of Him that we may be
directed by Thy wisdom, so that we can be enabled by Thy power. If we can take up that attitude,
how strong and quiet life will be. Stand firm in the faith, stand firm in the truth, stand firm in the Lord.
Elder Randy Slak
time to look forward. What will we do with the next 365 days, Lord willing that we would be here in
that length of time? We all have that same length of time of 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. What
will we do with that time? The Psalmist reminds us to “Teach us to number our days that we may
present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) The apostle James said, “life is a vapor", so we do
need to heartily devote ourselves to the study and practice of true wisdom, primarily the wisdom that
is given us in the Holy Scriptures, namely fearing God and keeping His commandments. Reading,
meditating on, and memorizing of this Word of God are like the disciplines that Paul mentions to
Timothy in 1Tim.4:7, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness.”
So, shall we beat a path to the Word of God this year? Now is the time! Not sure how? The weekly
bulletin gives us a starting point, you can follow that to begin with and branch out from there, the
whole Bible in one year, then you can do that next year and the year after and the year after that etc.
In Job 23:12, we see what kind of importance and how valuable the word can be for us.” I have
treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”. In Deut.8:3, “Man does not live by
bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord”. And Rev.1:3,
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophesy, and heed the things which
are written in it, for the time is near”. So, there is much to take in, and so little time it seems to do it.
Life is busy and hectic, and at times chaotic, how are we to beat a path to the Word consistently for
365 days?
A devotional is fine and can and should be used, but systematic, steady, faithful hiding of this Word of
God in our hearts, is definitely the right way to go, and these Bible through the Year reading programs
meet that need. Peter has it right in 1 Peter 2:2-3, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the
word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord”.
Some small things to discipline yourself toward could be waking up in the morning and make it your
goal to beat a path to the Word of God and hear His voice before you hear any others, to turn your
attention to speaking to Him before speaking to anyone else, instead of maybe turning right away to
your phone. This word of God is always for our good and often for our survival. It will quench, dispel,
overcome, those desires we have that are the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and lust of the flesh.
Treasure, delight, cherish, love, desire, those things He has written to you!
John 1:4, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men". John Piper comments, “If you don't beat
the path in the Light, you won't find it in the dark”. So having the right purposes to be in the Word of
God everyday throughout the year, and a good method to stay in the Word of God throughout the
year, we should see that the results that are produced should always be of the highest kind. True
religion I have learned is that there is nothing, nothing at all, is more important than wholehearted and
unqualified obedience to the words of God. The task, the challenge, the year is before us. What will
we do with it, how will we spend it, what will we accomplish with it? Let us ask of Him that we may be
directed by Thy wisdom, so that we can be enabled by Thy power. If we can take up that attitude,
how strong and quiet life will be. Stand firm in the faith, stand firm in the truth, stand firm in the Lord.
Elder Randy Slak