John 3:16 (NKJV) states: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. From this verse we get a glimpse of the depth of God’s love for us. 1 John 4:19 (NKJV) says: We love Him because He first loved us. From this verse we see that we did not have to do anything in order to earn God’s love. What then is our response to God’s love?
Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV):
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
For followers of Jesus Christ, there is only one option: to love God more than anyone or anything else. As Matthew 22:38 points out, the command to love the Lord is the “first and great commandment.”
Just as we are to love God, we are to also love God’s Word. God’s Word is very important to the life of the believer. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 4:4. The verse states: But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (NKJV).’” Consider also Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) that says: Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. We need God’s Word to know the way to go.
We must make it a priority to spend time reading and studying God’s Word. Time seeking to know God better through His Word. Time spent sitting quietly while God reveals to us the meaning of His Word. Time dedicated to growing our faith in God. All of which helps us to live the new life in Christ victoriously.
Psalm 1:2 (NKJV) states: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Meditating on God’s Word day and night is a posture where God’s Word is always before us. Where we are thinking about it. Pondering it. So that God’s Word – not our will, our flesh, or the world – guides how we live. The more we think about God’s Word, the more likely we are to obey God’s Word. The more we think about God’s Word, the more equipped we are to face temptations and challenges. Having God’s Word always before us also helps us to be aligned with God’s ways. Psalm 119:15 (NKJV) states: I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
Let us do as Jesus commanded and love God. Let us love God’s Word. Let us meditate on God’s Word, day and night.
John 1:1 (NKJV) states: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
