Loving the Word

Loving the word of God is not natural.

The more I reflect on the matter and recall observations about people’s engagement with the word of God the more I’m convinced. Indeed, I am someone who considers himself to be a lover of words and am a somewhat voracious consumer of words. Yet when it comes to the word of God, whatever desire I have for it, I know for sure is not natural.

I’m convinced that it’s something that happens on the inside of us by God that sparks a love for the word of God. It flows from the love of God as He reveals Himself through His Spirit and through His Son. That love is not mushy and sentimental and just for going all gooey eyed over God.  That kind of love does something on the inside of someone to give them a different approach to the ancient texts. They no longer take on the form of drudgery or something boring. It’s not boring when you remember that these words were inspired by God and gives insight into His ways and means of engaging with His creation. Skipping over bits of it is in essence skipping over parts of what God thought was good enough to share with you.

It is not natural to take the time and see the delights in what we know about God in books like Leviticus and Nahum. That’s why they are not the ones that are mentioned when people talk about key verses and stories in the word – but they are still part of this wonderful library God has given to those who follow Him.

It is not natural – it something purely spiritual – purely an element of truly putting aside selfish gratification and engaging with God as He is and enjoying Him in His Word. When that happens that’s when we begin to truly appreciate what it is to love the Word. And when you hear Jesus saying that searching the scriptures we see Him all over it, is an even greater stimulant to not just see it as a reading discipline, or something to ‘achieve’ getting through in a year, but a delight, a joy, a love.

This is why it’s worth knowing God in Spirit and then seeing how He opens up His Word in a way that we can love Him trhough it.

(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden