What steps can we take to ensure God's Word is central in our lives? The Cry for Permanent Truth (Job 19:23) “If only my words were recorded and inscribed in a book.” Job’s aching desire for his testimony to be etched forever points us to the priceless gift we already possess: God’s words, written and preserved for every generation. If Job longed for permanence, how much more should we cling to the Scriptures God has graciously given. Step One: Treasure the Written Word - Recognize every verse as God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17). - Approach the Bible with the reverence you would show a priceless heirloom. - Keep a physical copy within reach; visibility reinforces value. Step Two: Read Prayerfully and Regularly - Set a daily appointment with Scripture, guarding it as firmly as any other commitment. - Begin with a brief prayer for understanding (Psalm 119:18). - Follow a plan—one chapter a day, a yearly reading schedule, or a focused study on a book. Consistency anchors the Word at the center of life. Step Three: Memorize and Meditate - Hide the Word in your heart to ward off sin (Psalm 119:11). - Choose a verse each week; write it on a card, recite it aloud, place it on your phone lock screen. - Ponder the meaning during ordinary moments—driving, walking, waiting. Joshua 1:8 promises prosperity and success to those who “meditate on it day and night.” Step Four: Obey Immediately - “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). - When Scripture speaks to an attitude, relationship, or decision, act without delay. - Obedience cements truth; delayed obedience erodes conviction. Step Five: Teach and Share - “These words I command you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). - Speak of Scripture at the table, in the car, during household tasks. - Share insights with friends, co-workers, and church family; teaching multiplies retention and influence. Step Six: Preserve and Pass Down - Record your own testimonies of how Scripture has guided you—echoing Job’s wish yet pointing to God’s enduring Word. - Keep a journal, annotate your Bible margins, or create a family devotional archive. - Psalm 78:4-7 urges us to tell the coming generation “the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD… so that they should set their hope in God.” Putting It into Practice Today - Choose one small habit to start—perhaps memorizing Job 19:23 itself as a reminder of Scripture’s permanence. - Combine habits over time: daily reading, weekly memorization, immediate obedience, regular sharing. - As these rhythms take root, God’s Word moves from the pages of a book to the center of thought, speech, and action—exactly where it belongs. |
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