God's Not Dead: Thursday

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

We call the Bible “the Word of God” so often that we might forget how significant that title is if we are not careful. The fact that the Bible is indeed the Word of God is not something we should take lightly. It is His very Word. That means that everything we read in the Bible comes directly from Him, the God of the universe. He did not have to give us His word as a means of communicating with us, but He chose to do so because He desires a relationship with us. What a priceless gift He has given us!

David celebrated the gift of God’s word in Psalm 119. As we saw in our Bible study earlier this week, He began this Psalm by acknowledging that God speaks to us through His creation on display throughout the world. Next, in this Psalm, he shifted to a second way that God communicates with His people: His Word. He wrote in this passage of Scripture, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (verse 7). For five verses, David celebrated what a gift God’s word is to us. He concluded this celebration of God’s word by declaring that God’s word is “more desirable than gold” and “sweeter than honey” (verse 10). As a king, David had access to the sweetest honey and desserts that could be made with it, along with the “finest” gold. As a result, experience taught him that Scripture is sweeter than anything that can be consumed and more valuable than any riches or things money can buy. Why? Because in it contains God’s own words, and there is no worldly possession that is more valuable than God’s words to us.

God’s word is an invaluable treasure to each one of us. The question is, do we recognize what a treasure it is, or take it for granted? The Psalmist of Psalm 119 certainly did not take God’s word for granted. As He celebrated the treasure that is God’s word, he wrote, “I have rejoiced in Your laws as much as in riches. I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways. I will delight in Your decrees and not forget Your word” (verses 14-16). Because the Psalmist of Psalm 119 treasured God’s word, He celebrated it, studied it diligently, recited it, and, ultimately, delighted in it. This is the only way to respond to what a treasure God’s word is to each one of us.

We have more access today to God’s word than anyone else in history. Think about that truth for a moment. Let it sink in. Let’s celebrate the gift that God’s word, His communication to us, is. Let’s be diligent in studying it daily, memorizing it, and delighting in every single word.

Moving Toward Action

Before you read the verses in the Going Deeper section below, take a moment to express gratitude and thank God for the gift of His word. Thank Him that He has given it to encourage us and to help us know how to live in a way that honors Him. Let this gratitude spill over into your Bible reading time as you read the verses listed below in the Going Deeper section.

Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.

“God, Your word is a treasure. I thank You for…”

Going Deeper

Psalm 119:1-16