As we begin a new calendar year and a year-long study of the book of Genesis, we first want to re-examine the importance of learning from the Bible. Just as our bodies need physical food, so our souls need spiritual food. We feed our souls at the banquet table of God’s word, eating and talking with him. In Isaiah 55:2 God says, 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
If we feed on God’s Word, our souls will be filled and satisfied. They will find delight in the very best food possible. In contrast, those who don’t feast on God’s word are like spiritually starving children. Life will be a struggle. They will be spiritually hungry, never satisfied and without energy to live life well.
In the initial study this week, we will examine the benefits of studying God’s Word. The journal readings will focus on what we gain by studying the Word of God.
The Benefits of Studying God’s Word
One benefit is found in John 20:30-31: 30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Apostle John who was with Jesus when he taught and walked on this earth wrote his gospel so that people might believe that Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God and that they would gain the life found in him. In Jesus we find physical, spiritual and eternal life.
A second benefit can be seen in Psalm 143:5-6: 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. The second benefit is that we get to know God, and see who we are in comparison. We learn of his attributes, his character, his faithfulness. We learn to love and rely on him.
A third benefit is stated in Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. We can’t be wise and have understanding if we don’t know and fear God. The fear of the Lord is knowing who God is and who we are in comparison. We know that he knows and sees everything that we think and do and that we will be held accountable for our thoughts, words, and actions. That should cause us to go his way and do what is right which is why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 119:105 says: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. God’s Word guides us in the way we should go. If we follow it, we will make good decisions, do what is right and be wise.
A fourth benefit for studying God’s Word is found in 1 Corinthians 10:6: When Paul talks about the Israelites and all that happened to them he says, 6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. In studying God’s word we learn from the history of Israel, the mistakes the people made. Hopefully, we learn from their mistakes and not make the same mistakes ourselves. The Israelites put their affection on evil things, things other than God.
That leads us to the most important benefit of studying God’s Word. Through the study of his Word and his divine power, we gain what we need to fulfill the first and second greatest commandments found in Mark 12:29-31. 29“The most important [commandment],” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength
The heart is related to our emotions or affections. When we love someone with all our heart, we place our affections on them. We want to know them and be with them. We are devoted to them. If we love God with all our heart, we are devoted to him and want to be with him. We have feelings for him.
Our minds are related to our thoughts, knowledge and learning. If we love God with all our mind, we want to learn from him and know all about what he has said and done. Then we will want to focus our minds on him and think about (meditate on) all he has said and done. Our thoughts will be filled with God and what is right and true.
Our soul is the eternal part of our being, the part that isn’t complete without being in relationship with God. When we love God with all our soul, we believe in Jesus and enter into an eternal relationship with him. We are saved from our sin and receive from him the power to live rightly. We gain life in his name, both eternal and abundant life.
Our strength is related to what we do and the choices we make. If we love God with all our strength, we submit our will (desires) to his will. We live out our love for him in the way we relate to and treat others and the things we choose to do with our lives. It is the fulfillment of the second greatest commandment, to love others as we love ourselves. We can only love others rightly, as we love God.
- Overview Questions: What are the benefits of studying God’s Word? What are the first and second greatest commandments? What does it mean to love God with all one’s heart? What does it mean to love God with all one’s mind? What does it mean to love God with all one’s soul? What does it mean to love God with all one’s strength? How do we fulfill the second greatest commandment?
- Thought Questions: What happens to us when we don’t study God’s Word? Why? What keeps us from wanting to study God’s Word? What should motivate us to study God’s Word? Why should that be our motivation? How often should we study God’s Word? Why?
- Prayer: Pray that a desire to know Jesus better would grow in you so that you would hunger and thirst after his truth and find true satisfaction in a relationship with him. Pray that you would desire to be in his word every day so that you have real fellowship with him and want to go his way. Pray that you would recognize what keeps you from really pursuing Jesus and want to overcome that and be made right.
- Week’s Memory Verse: Mark 12:29-31
29“The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
Why should we study the Bible? Through God’s Word, we learn how to love God with our entire being.
I really like the thought questions what keeps me from studying his word
If we don’t remember and acknowledge the great things God has done, we easily turn away from him. Work in us Lord that we want you above all else.