“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT)

 

How do you feel about Bible study? Be honest. Is it a delight? Or is it drudgery?

Unfortunately, many of us look at our time in God’s Word as mere drudgery. Perhaps it’s the way we read the Bible. Many of us read God’s Word in a hunt-and-peck method. We read a little here and a little there with no genuine concern for context or what a book of the Bible is teaching. We read the Bible sporadically, and then we can’t understand why we’re unable to benefit from what Scripture teaches.

Psalm 1:1–3 says, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (NLT).

The wise person of God meditates on Scripture day and night. The meditation the psalmist refers to isn’t the so-called transcendental meditation, in which people disengage their minds to the point of receiving impressions from elsewhere. The meditation that the Bible advocates deliberately engages the conscious mind with the truths of God’s Word. Meditation involves studying God’s Word with a searching spirit and engaging with what it says.

The apostle Paul offered these words to his protégé Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT).

The potential of Scripture to change our lives is limitless. The question is, how do we harness that potential? How do we get from God’s Word everything He wants us to get?

The next time you attempt to meditate on God’s Word, ask yourself these four questions about the passage you’re reading:

1. Is there any sin here for me to avoid?
2. Is there any promise for me to claim?
3. Is there any victory to gain?
4. Is there any blessing to enjoy?

When we read Scripture with these questions in mind, we develop a real sense of anticipation. We’re no longer just reading the Bible as though it were a classroom assignment.  Instead, we’re showing that we understand the value of God’s Word and are earnestly looking for ways to claim that treasure for ourselves. The more we search, the more we find. That’s why wise believers meditate on Scripture day and night.

Reflection Question: How can you interact with Scripture in a more personal and profound way? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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