“You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].” Psalm 27:8 Amplified Bible
The change that we are all looking for as we enter this new year is found in
dependence upon,
submission and obedience to,
and faith in
Christ alone.
True life change will not be found in encouraging conferences once a year or a sermon once a week or even small groups, though all of these are valuable tools and resources.
What people need is the DAILY confrontation of the Word and Presence of God.
We need to daily be in the Scriptures, allowing His Word to search and train us and grow our faith. “..faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). To be equipped for every good work, we need to be in the inspired Word of God that is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
Here is one of my life verses:
“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10 ESV
I am challenged by this progression: study, do, teach.
First, we must “set our heart to study His Word”. Then we must actually “do it”— to do what it says and not be hearers only, who delude ourselves (James 1:22). And then teach it.
May we not be truth hoarders and keep it all to ourselves. Sharing it (and not just picking and choosing what is easy to share) is part of the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19, 20.
May we know truth, obey it, and share with others what we have learned.
(If you still need a Scripture daily reading plan, you can download and print my favorite by clicking here)
