HomeLife - January 2008

God wants His Word to be more than
a spice that accents your life.
He wants it to literally soak into
the core of who you are.

Everyone was crying but me. To my right was a lady with her hands held high and tears streaming down her face. To my left was a man on his knees, singing at the top of his lungs. I was standing between them, listening to the worship leader shout, “I want to touch You! I want to see Your face! I want to know You more!” One by one, people were making their way down the aisle, flooding the altar. It felt as though God was revealing Himself to everyone. Everyone but me.

Whatever the congregation was sensing — I wasn’t. I was wide-awake in a sea of people clearly receiving something divine. My heart desperately wanted to be right there with them — but it wasn’t.
So what did I do? I closed my eyes, lifted my hands, and sang even louder. I didn’t want to get left behind.
I wanted to see what everyone else was seeing.
Touch what everyone else was touching.
Feel what everyone else was feeling.

Know what everyone else was getting to know.

You can know His will if you read His book.

Make the connection. Have you ever felt as though you’re missing out on a real connection with God? You hear statements like, “I saw God in a powerful way” or “God spoke to me today.” It sounds like God is busy making the rounds, connecting with others, but somehow you’re incommunicado.
Welcome to the club. Throughout history, man has always longed to hear from God. Problem is, we often look for God in our experiences, events songs, and sermons rather than looking in the primary way God speaks: the Bible.
What are some practical ways to use Scripture as a means to connect with God? When I attended a class led by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, here’s what I learned:

• Hear the Word: Paul wrote about how trust is generated: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17, NIV). In the field of education experts say that about 10 percent of what we hear stays with us. At school or at work, we absorb and apply only a tenth of what we hear. The rest is flushed from our brains, and it’s gone. This percentage is true in our spiritual lives as well: We absorb only about 10 percent of the sermons, seminars, and talks we hear. Hearing is important, but it’s only the first step.

• Read the Word: When it comes to reading, the statistics are more in our favor. We actually absorb about 25 percent of what we read. The physical and mental effort expended in reading pays greater dividends than simply hearing. Reading reinforces truth so we can understand and obey God. The pages of the Bible are the source of God’s wisdom: about relationships, career, parenting, tragedy, pain, death, purpose, values, lifestyle, and all the principles you and I need to live successfully. Many Christians complain that they don’t know what God’s will is. You can know His will if you read His book.

• Study the Word: Hearing and reading are effective, but not as effective as studying. This discipline allows us to take in and apply the truth. Solomon, the wisest man the world has ever known, wrote about the benefits of searching for the truth: “If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless” (Prov. 23-7, NIV).
The simple truth? We will be motivated to study God’s Word when we become passionate about knowing God.

• Memorize the Word: Studying God’s Word will have a huge impact on your life, but memorizing the Scriptures will be even more effective in changing your life, because 80 percent of what we memorize stays with us. In Psalm 119:9, David writes, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (NIV). A couple of verses later, he describes how the Word penetrated his own heart: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (v. 11, NIV). Hopefully we’ve all been in situations where the Holy Spirit brought to mind a particular Scripture at just the right time. Memorizing God’s truth makes it easily accessible for the Holy Spirit to use it any time, any place.

• Meditate on the Word: To enjoy the greatest benefit form God’s Word, learn to meditate on it. In fact, cross out the word meditate and replace it with the word marinate. God wants His Word not just to be a spice that accents your life, but a daily marinating process that literally soaks into the core of who you are, forever changing your very identity.
Soaking yourself in God’s Word is 100 percent effective. Paul even admonishes us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV). A renewed mind is one that continually marinates in Scripture.

Enjoy the richness. The truths found in the pages of the Bible hold the keys to purpose and fulfillment. But soaking them up requires effort and determination. Don’t miss out on a real connection with God. Soak His Word into the very core of who you are.

4 WAYS TO SOAK UP SCRIPTURE
Take the Plunge

As parents, model for your children that immersing in Bible study is imperative to a healthy Christian life. But go beyond the surface of just letting them see you study God’s Word; invite them to take the plunge with you so they begin to form Bible study practices at a young age.

1) Find a book or devotional study that is appropriate for all members of your family.
2) Set aside at least one night per week and get together to read, pray, and discuss what God is doing in your family.
3) Use HomeLife’s new family devotional, “Family Faith.” It includes a monthly spiritual emphasis (self-control is this month’s focus), Scriptures to memorize together, discussion points, and suggestions on how to involve your family in applying God’s Word.
4) Encourage your kids to read something in the Bible every day and tell you about it. Share with them what you’re learning in your study of God’s Word.