The Bible is a treasure. It’s not something to skim in our spare time, or a self-help manual, or a tool for inspiration—it’s sustaining sustenance for our souls. It anchors us, encourages us, convicts us, and transforms us. In it are the very words of God, teaching us who He is and how to live.
God’s Word Helps Us Know God
God desires for us to know Him. He’s done more than save us from His wrath, He’s brought us into a relationship. We’re not intended to just revere Him as King or fear Him as Judge, but to love Him as our Father. As Jen Wilkin aptly said, “The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.” [1]
We must love God for who He is (not for who our fallen minds desire Him to be) and He reveals who is in Scripture.
He is holy—incomparable and set apart. He is sovereign, wise, and good. He is merciful to all who call on Him for salvation and wrathful towards those who refuse to honor Him as Lord. He is a refuge for the weary, a healer of the sick, and a father to the fatherless. He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love! His unchanging attributes—those we can emulate and those reserved for Him alone—aren’t ever at odds with each other. He is all that He’s said about Himself at all times.
Our finite minds will never grasp the depth of His greatness, but He gives us glimpses of it in Scripture.
God’s Word Shows Us How to Live
Scripture also teaches us how to live. Living in submission to God brings us joy, wisdom, comfort, and help. This is why the Psalmist repeatedly called God’s commandments his delight (Psalm 119).
There are concrete ways Scripture instructs us. It explicitly tells us sins to refrain from and righteousness to pursue. And where it is not explicit, it is still sufficient, giving us all the wisdom we need. By teaching us who we are called to be, it speaks to every aspect of life.
We are intended to live as imitators of Christ. We are to be compassionate, merciful, just, pure, forgiving, generous, gracious, and humble. We are to bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Growing into who God’s called us to be equips us to navigate the gray areas of life. It informs how we make big decisions (who to marry, what job to take, which house to buy, etc.) and small decisions (how to spend our time, which relationships we should build, how to serve at church, etc.)
The Importance of Memorization
When God’s word seeps into the depths of our hearts, the Spirit uses it to minister to us in times of need.
When Satan accuses us after we’ve sinned, we remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
When we’re faced with temptation, we remember that sin enslaves and freedom is found in following Christ (Galatians 5:1).
When our hearts are drowning in despair, we remember the hope we have in the God of our salvation (Psalm 42:11).
When others hurt us, we remember that because the Lord has forgiven us, we must forgive them (Colossians 3:12-13).
When we are marginalized for our faith, we remember to rejoice and be glad, because our reward will be great in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12).
Scripture is filled with endless treasure, let us commit ourselves to seeing its great worth.
Some of the verse that are most deeply entrenched in my heart are those that I memorized as a child. They didn’t all make sense then, but they often serve me now. So, I have a gift for you and your kids! Join my mailing list and I’ll send you a set of A-Z Scripture memory cards (PDF and JPEG).
1. From Women of the Word
This is great friend! Love your insight here!