by Pastor James Lee

In Part 1, we embarked on a walk around the neighborhood to consider two common ways we mock God in neglecting our stewardship of our short time here on the earth – Two principles in which we need forgiveness as much as we find so much grace and fresh opportunity. First, I argued that complaining about time is complaining about God. And, fresh off of that meditation, I was again humbled to read Albert Mohler write, “We can be humbled by limitations of time without gaining any real wisdom in terms of its stewardship… I can feel the passing of time in my bones, and that knowledge makes me want to be a more faithful steward of time tomorrow than I was today. Time will tell.” Personal application is ongoing! But now let’s consider a second, of many common ways, we sometimes mock God in our sanctification.

2. Neglecting the Fact That Sowing One Thing Reaps More of the Same Thing

Proverbs 4:23 exhort us, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.”

We’re all disciplined. The question for each of us is: in what? Are we disciplining ourselves for godliness? Is our spiritual health the highest priority of our lives? There is no quick fix for godliness or secret sauce to spiritual growth. It takes steady persevering faith. Donald Whitney was right when he said that, “We discipline ourselves in what we delight in.” I loved sports growing up, so that playing volleyball for hours at the school gym, then again at the beach later the same day, was summer happiness. But running on a treadmill feels like I’m a lab rat running endlessly to nowhere; so gym workouts aren’t nearly as enjoyable. If we love something, our discipline in it doesn’t seem like discipline because we delight in it. If genuine love of Christ resides in our hearts, we will discipline ourselves for godliness.

I recently went to the garden department at Home Depot. I bought some cherry tomatoes to grow over the summer and a dwarf Meyer lemon tree for our patio. I’m confident about growing cherry tomatoes because we’ve had success with them in the past, but the lemon tree has been a nervous study about the right kind of container, potting soil mix, frequency of watering and fertilizer, sun exposure, pruning, and other factors. Likewise, each of us might need particular truths from the sufficient Word, to apply at any given moment. It’s not always one size fits all, as some would lead you to believe. Nevertheless, whether you have special dietary needs because you’re diabetic, or you’re a world class marathon runner, every one of us needs to eat and drink, or we’ll be dead. There is an inevitable link between what we put into our bodies and our health. All plants require sunshine, water, and nutrients from the soil. Any child knows that if you plant carrot seeds in a garden, you will harvest carrots. You don’t expect to get broccoli. There is an inevitable link between what we put into the ground and what we take out of it or produce later.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. We can’t neglect His Word, dependence on His Spirit, fellowship with His people, etc. and expect to be spiritually healthy. The Bible gives us a simple yet profound principle that is crucial to all healthy change and spiritual growth. It is found stated or illustrated in countless examples. One example is in Galatians 6:7-10:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Not exactly a sweeping revelation. There is nothing new or innovative under the sun. We reap what we sow. As it’s true in agriculture, it’s also true in our spiritual lives. What you see in your spiritual life today is the direct result of what you’ve put into the soil of your life in days past. What you see in your marriage today is probably a result of what you put or didn’t put into your marriage in days past. What you see in your grades today is likely the result of your study habits, diligence, or lack thereof, in days past. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Note that it’s of spiritual consequence, Paul says “God is not mocked;” that’s strong warning.

Do you know why some Christians make great strides in their walk with God while others are stagnant and mechanical and passionless? It isn’t because they lack some special godliness gene. It isn’t because of gifting, or of personality, or of upbringing, or some special event or circumstance or mentoring or lack of any of it. Of course, where godliness exists, it’s His grace and our dependence. But the difference is a matter of what each has planted into the soil of his or her own heart. Godliness isn’t a mysterious spiritual state that only an elite few or super-Christians can reach. We reap what we sow. Holiness is a harvest. And every Christian will bear genuine fruit over the course of time. But even as true believers, if we sow to our sinful desires, what the Bible calls the “flesh”, then we are told we will reap corruption. If we eat Snickers Bars and Chili Dogs all day every day for years, we will gain fat, develop diabetes, and suffer from heart disease. If we watch TV everyday after we work more than we study God’s Word, pray, and care for our family, then we will reap eventually the corruption that comes from eating that mental junk food. Then the spiritual weeds and rust that come from neglect will sprout and surface instead of godliness. If you neglect the spiritual disciplines and walking personally with God, don’t be surprised when you make sinful choices and change your life priorities waiting for a more convenient day. Don’t think that a little sexual innuendo, a lustful glance, or a casual fantasy won’t reap negative results no matter how small.

Paul presents us with two fields to sow in. One represents the Spirit and a life lived to depend on and please God. The other represents our sinful desires or the unredeemed “flesh.” Each of us can choose which field to plant seeds in. At any given moment we can go from one field to the other, kneel down, and sow seeds in one or the other. Where we sow, we reap. I recently planted some flowers in a little plot of dirt next to our garage for Sandy, and they’re blooming at the perfect time. I’ve been really intent on seeing them do well and not dying on me. I prepped the soil well, but no matter how pristine it is at the beginning, the wind is always blowing, so the spores from weeds inevitably will make their way there. The minute I see them, I pull those evil suckers from their roots. We can’t prevent the weeds, but we can prevent them from taking deep root and spreading. Same is true spiritually. All of us are in progress, and totally dependent on the Lord, but we must still be vigilant. Therefore, ultimately, you and I have two choices – sow to your flesh or sow to the Spirit, there is no in-between or neutral. In other words, if we are not sowing towards godliness, then we are by default going to be sowing to our sinful desires. To be inactive in growing your spiritual vitality and vision is to be actively diminishing it, and for some, destroying it. We should not merely “rest” in the gospel as a revived, yet subtle antinomianism would suggest. Our sinful desires and deeds are actual seeds that land in the soil of our hearts. They don’t just go away. They take root. They grow up. And unless we’re removing them, eventually they reap a harvest of spiritual disaster.

The late John Stott wrote, “Some Christians (foolishly and irrationally) sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness.” What do you eat and pursue in your life? All of life’s choices – media consumption, career paths, books we read or books we don’t read, how we respond to anger or stress or difficult people, the use of money and our investment of it to the Satan-inspired lie of self-security or for His eternal kingdom, whether we embrace or avoid evangelism, what parenting principles we believe and practice (if you’re getting all your advice from your past or peers or psychology rather than the Bible, then what are you reaping?). And it’s not ever a lack of mentors as some of us might complain, it’s lack of the Word of God. Mentoring helps, but only so far as it reflects His Word. Plenty of bad mentors out there. And we may not pay the price now, but to a degree we will. And who will we blame when that day comes? We’ll probably find someone. But who can we blame? In reality, no one but ourselves. So the choice is simply this. Sow in the field of righteousness and grow holiness and expand witness and glorify God. Or sow in the field of the flesh and grow corruption and spiritual ineffectiveness, apathy, and shame. None of us will do this perfectly. It’s not perfection; it’s direction. Therefore, what direction are you and I sowing?

Joshua Harris wrote, “Growing in holiness is not about all the things you should avoid; it’s about the wonderful things you can and should be doing instead.” Not just putting off, but putting on. Not just saying no, but saying yes to something much better. Because no matter how much you exercise and eat salad, if you eat Krispy Kremes and bacon every other hour, you’re not going to be healthy. No matter how much you may externally attend a Sunday Service, it’s not going to undo all the real damage you’ve sown during the rest of the week. If you do not make it your direction and habit to humble yourself and strive to sow to please God and grow godliness gradually in your life, then you will never be a positive influence on the lives of others, you will never be a godly husband that your wife respects, you will never have anything lasting or substantial to teach your children, you will never be godly no matter how much you wish or claim to be so. Discipline yourself towards godliness. Stop making the excuses about being too tired or disliking reading or being too busy or justifying being in the path of sinners. Because if you sow that way, then that’s what you’ll reap. We can’t necessarily undo all our past choices or escape their consequences, but thankfully God’s grace is not negated and rescues. But starting today, I mean right now – we can ask God for His mercy and enablement – to daily commit to sow to please the Spirit. Every potential choice, every thought, every conversation, every deed, can be done to glorify God and it will lead to a harvest of eternal life and godliness. None of us will get it right all the time, but what we do get right will be blessed.

Has entertainment and “rest” become a “right” rather than a gift and responsible stewardship to be used for God’s glory? Did you know that recreation is “re-creation”, that its intended purpose is for renewal, not escape, and certainly not as a cover for one’s spiritual laziness? Yes, we can enjoy to the glory of God, and we need a healthy theology of rest, but I wonder if that is even pondered theologically and prayerfully. Too often, I observe that recreation has become something counter to what might please the Lord, in the sinful choices that professing believers engage in, that they’d blush embarrassment if they realized the Lord was actually in their midst, in terms of what they watch and where they go or how they reason it’s OK to participate in. But even when our enjoyment is legitimate and not inherently sinful, I’m not so confident that it’s saturated by gratefulness to the Lord and rejoicing in Him and not just His gifts? Have your plans somehow become more important than God’s plans? Has God’s Word become less important than the daily news or your favorite sports team’s scores? Have you become comfortable in not chasing after godliness as though your life depended on it? Have other things pushed aside the priority for Christ?

You reap what you sow. Sow laziness, reap the consequences. Sow neglect of your spouse, reap the consequences. So sinful culture, reap its approval. Sow pornography or the unedifying advertisement, reap the consequences. Sow bitterness and prejudice and greed, reap the consequences. Sow material wealth over storing up your treasure in heaven, reap the consequences. Sow anger, reap the consequences.

There are God-honoring priorities, but really only one! Mary had chosen the better of worship… and then she worked expressing that worship. First and foremost is our relationship to Christ – devotion to Him, our own soul care, a vibrant, growing, passionate walk with Christ has no substitute – it is absolutely essential and we must view and practice it as such. Paul rebuked the Corinthians, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” Jesus rebuked Ephesus in Revelation 2, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Get this right, and everything else falls into place. Get it wrong, and everything else slowly falls apart… or worse, it deceives and desensitizes you. Yes, our Father disciplines us, if we’re truly His, but we love Him too.

Martin Luther said once, “I have much to do today, Therefore I will spend the first three hours in prayer.” That’s the first thing that goes for me, if I’m honest. But from experience, prayer actually makes us more productive. It actually allows us not only to get the most necessary things done, but more things done in general. The godliest people in church history always prioritize prayer and were known for their private prayer. It might not always be long, but does it come first and does it come often? If so, then soon we’ll find that our prayer life becomes more intimate, more powerful, more consistent, and lengthier in substance. Our joy will increase, our contentment will grow, our faith will be strengthened… irrespective of circumstances. Our life will be a more like a continual spring of loving God and loving others, than a tank that always feels empty.

How about you dear brethren? Are you tempted to think otherwise? Is He your daily bread? Is He your all in all? Will your coworkers, your children, your friends say of you – he really loves Jesus, she really loves Jesus. J. Oswald Sanders gave this practical challenge, “Suppose that we allot ourselves a generous eight hours a day for sleep (and few need more than that), three hours for meals and conversation, ten hours a day for work and travel on five days. Still we have thirty five hours each week to fill. What happens to them? How are they invested? A person’s entire contribution to the kingdom of God may turn on how those hours are used. Certainly those hours determine whether life is commonplace or extraordinary.”

Are you and I redeeming the time? Are we truly, truly seeking to be faithful over being successful? We reap what we sow. But here’s encouragement – if you sow to the Spirit, you will also reap a harvest if you do not give up. Don’t get weary. As you sow to please the Spirit, a harvest of righteousness will begin to grow. Godliness will grow. That’s the promise from God Himself. It’s the one investment in life that always reaps happy dividends! It may not sprout up overnight, and sometimes you may feel like you’re not changing as fast as you desire. But you will. Endure. Because our hope for change is based on God’s grace. Yet, it requires the obedience of faith in God’s goodness. What are you sowing to at the present? There are only two choices: to please the Spirit or to please your flesh. Make a life of growing godliness the field where you sow.

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7–12)

“As mothers are absolutely and indisputably essential to the well- being of children, so spiritual leaders who minister with a mother’s gentleness, intimate affection, sacrificial love, and unselfish labor are essential for the health of the church.” (John MacArthur)

by Pastor John Kim

This is not something you often hear regarding church leadership, that you should reflect the character of a mother. But the apostle Paul shares about this kind of perspective, something that is very much needed in today’s churches, especially as you hear about pastors these days who have been dismissed from their churches due to a harsh spirit, a domineering spirit, where people are being spiritually abused and severely traumatized due to a lack of love.

There is something about a mother that resonates universally – from the time you are born, your mother is the one who will not only take care of you, but love you, and gently, tenderly, affectionately be there for you. This is not just a sentimental thing – to be gentle, tender, and affectionate is not something that will always come naturally.

Sure, there are times when a mother sees her child and thinks, “Oh how I love this child!”
There are other times when a mother sees her child and can’t help but think “I can’t handle this craziness!” To choose to be gentle, tender, and affectionate is not based on someone being deserving or worthy but it is a deliberate choice to work toward being that way.

Paul uses the imagery of a mother going through labor in his ministry towards the church:

“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you-” (Galatians 4:19)

The word “labor” here in this verse is the word used for the labor pain at the birth of a child. It is the most intense and prolonged pain that only a mother who has given birth can truly understand. But it is a pain that is embraced and endured because the mother knows what will be the end result – the birth of a child.

It is as if Paul says, not only did I labor to see you be brought to spiritual life but that he is also laboring to see them grow in Christlikeness.

This is what the perspective of a mother should bring to the leadership of the church. It is a long term commitment not only to the beginning stages but to the long-term growth of a congregation where there should be a very clear and unmistakable sense where the leaders show a gentle, tender, and affectionate care for the members.

Gentleness

The abuse of a baby is one that is completely inexcusable. To hurt one that is incapable of defending himself, to be so hard-hearted that you would inflict pain on a little one is something that most people would find deplorable.

Instead you can imagine the kind of treatment that a baby would receive, especially when he or she is just born. You can only expect there to be a gentle handling of that baby by all involved.

In many churches today, you do not see this kind of mentality toward people. In fact, it is only maybe in the nursery that you might see it, but I would like to use the nursery ministry as a very visible way to drive home this point. What if parents were to walk in the nursery and see the nursery workers treating their little ones in a rough manner? What if they were just yelling at the child and handling them harshly? There is no way you would put them in the nursery, would you? What would you expect in the nursery? I can tell you what you should expect in the nursery – you should see that there are those who have committed themselves and prepared themselves to be gentle – gentle toward a child that will typically come in crying, not wanting to be there, not immediately cooperative, not willing to to share, not willing to listen to instructions, but still be gentle toward them. Why? Because that is the kind of character you are to display to these little ones.

But to be gentle is not limited to the children. The apostle Paul is talking about the church.
He is sharing how he and his team did not come with flattering speech (2:5) and they were not there to seek glory from men (2:6). He did not assert even his apostolic authority in ministry but instead ministered to them as a mother would to her children.

To be gentle is not a small thing nor is it something to be associated with being weaker. It actually takes great strength to be gentle as a mother is gentle with her child. You will see a mother talk gently and gently handle her little child, who has just thrown up, who has just soiled the diaper for the 20th time today, who has just thrown a tantrum over eating vegetables. If an adult treated you the way a child treats his or her parents in these ways, there is no way you would respond gently in response to them.

But this is the picture of strength – to display gentleness, a meek and quiet spirit that brings peace and calm. Gentleness is something that we need to value more in the life of the church as well as in the home.

Gentleness is a manifestation of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life as well.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

Note that the fruit of the Spirit is a multi-colored expression of different character qualities and gentleness is highlighted as a quality that reflects the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

“Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!” (2 Corinthians 10:1)

The apostle Paul urges by the gentleness of Christ – what a picture of one who instead of asserting apostolic authority instead appeals to the gentleness of Christ as the means by which he would exhort and even correct those who had stubbornly questioned his apostleship.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3)

Again Paul highlights among other things the quality of gentleness to be that which reflects a worthy walk as well as that which contributes to the preserving of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in the life of the church.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:12–14)

How do you show that you are one of God’s chosen? By a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

Even in your confronting of a fellow believer in sin, true spirituality is shown in the pursuit of restoration in a spirit of gentleness.

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)

Instead of being the kind of person who seeks the sordid gain of the love of money, Paul urges Timothy to flee from such things and instead among other things, pursue gentleness.

“What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)

You can only imagine as Paul is being tested by what he has heard going on in the Corinthian church. There were those who questioned his authority and were arrogant because Paul wasn’t there. But even then, Paul questions them as to how he should come – whether with the rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

A good question to ask is how would you want your spiritual leaders to come to you when you are caught up in your sin. Sometimes there is a call for strong reproof and discipline when there is a stubborn, rebellious heart. But how must more would it be preferred to not have it come to that but instead invite a gentle response. So there is a time for a stern reproof but even so, there would be a preference to display gentleness.

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26)

Again, even when facing opposition, there is a maturity and a sense of perspective that looks beyond the immediate situation and expresses gentleness in the hope of seeing God grant repentance.

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:13–18)

Spiritual wisdom, wisdom from above, is the kind of wisdom that is characterized by gentleness. It stands in opposition to bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, to arrogance and lies.

Wisdom from heaven is characterized by a gentleness that exudes both in the content and in how it is presented.

Tender Care

The primary thought behind this word is the idea to cherish. It is to treat with tenderness and affection. It is to have a nurturing spirit, one that would figuratively warm someone with their care. The same word is used in Ephesians 5:29 in the context of how a husband is to cherish his wife, just as Christ cherishes the church

Probably the most significant picture of tender care would be that of a mother nursing her child. That’s why Paul uses this description to convey the heart attitude of how ministry should be conducted.

This tenderness is not something to be seen as just a feminine trait.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76–79)

God Himself exercises a tender mercy. This is something that one might not expect to be highlighted of the omnipotent God but when you consider the whole gift of salvation, is it not appropriate to see the tenderness of God revealed to undeserving sinners?

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

If we have experienced the tender mercies of God in being granted forgiveness of Christ, you would think that this would have a profound impact in the life of His children. There is something to be said about a congregation that is tenderhearted toward one another. You will also see a kindness, an atmosphere of forgiveness because it all points to the reality of the gospel

Fond Affection

The idea behind this quality is that of a strong and persistent longing, a yearning, a very strong affection. John MacArthur notes that ancient inscriptions on the tombs of dead babies sometimes contained this term when parents wanted to describe their sad longing for a too-soon-departed child.

You can see this in the heart of a mother toward her child, especially when she is separated from her child for any reason. Try talking to a mother who is longing for her child – that is the only thing on her mind! But why? Because there is this strong affection, a longing, a persistent yearning.

This is the kind of affection that should exist within the church as well, especially in the leaders.
There should be such a sense of affection that there would be the willingness to lay down your life. The ministry of the gospel was not just one of imparting information but one of imparting life. A true minister of the gospel is one who is willing to give his very life for the sake of those that God has given to minister in the church body.

Paul shows such an example, that at the heart of his ministry was not just cold obligation, not just an imparting of information, but a fond affection.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6–8)

There are some pastors and church leaders who show absolutely no affection toward the members of the church. There is a business mentality, almost like looking at people simply as commodities or numbers instead of thinking of how to truly shepherd them as Christ would shepherd the flock. It is tragic when you see this kind of attitude, especially in the leaders of the church. They fail to represent and reflect the Savior, who presented Himself to be gentle and humble in heart.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

My hope and prayer is that our Lighthouse churches, especially the leadership of all the churches, would reflect these kind of qualities in such a way that the watching world can see the absolute stunning brilliance of how the gospel has transformed our lives and how we treat one another. It really goes against everything the world would value and highlights what would reflect our Savior in the most appropriate ways, especially in the life of the church.

by Pastor Mark Chin

Could we live without words, be they spoken, written, or signed? Words are more than just pieces of information. At the end of the day, words are about relationships. They represent and share the person who gives them. Without words, real relationships cease to exist. All we are left with is silence.

Sadly, we live in a time where words are plentiful and cheap. Is it any surprise that our relationships are frequently the same – including our relationships with God and the people of God?

Quality and meaningful time in the Word begins with a transformed heart that appreciates by faith the value, meaning, and significance of the words being spoken to us as we read the Scriptures.

The overwhelming temptation of the flesh is to view the Bible as just another book – a difficult textbook filled with an abundance of words, just like all the words of any other book. The result, when we give in to such a temptation, is to reduce our devotional time to a check box on our to-do list, like purchasing groceries or reading through a health insurance manual. Is it any surprise that our time in the Word is dry and feels like reading an old telephone book that has been lying around the house when we approach Scripture in this way?

In John 15, Jesus draws a connection between abiding in Him, abiding in His Word, and obeying His commandments. A living relationship with Christ is directly related to a living relationship with His Word – a relationship where His Word is more than just something we read. It is lived.

For the men of Scripture, especially our Lord and Savior, the words of Scripture were exciting, compelling, living, and life-changing because they were, for them, the very words of God Himself, made alive by the Spirit of God.

Heb. 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

What is evident as we read the words of Scripture is that the men whom God used to write these words genuinely appreciated and treasured, by faith, the person, the relationship, and the gift these words represented. Do we?

One of the essential ingredients for a fruitful Bible reading plan or daily devotional is a heart that, by faith, truly appreciates God’s words for what they are – His words – and approaches them as such. This is something only God can give and so, it is something we need to pray for – desperately. Without the help of His Holy Spirit, our daily devotionals will be just like reading a telephone book.

So lets pray consistently for ourselves – and one another – that the Lord would give the members of our church a heart to know and love Christ by knowing and loving His precious words to us.