22 Days
To A Greater Appreciation
of God’s Word

It is imperative to know the Word of God.  Why?  Because it has all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).  It tells us about our family relationships, professions, businesses, dealings with neighbors, troubles, trials, and, most importantly, our relationship to God.  No book is so thorough in its coverage of our needs, hopes, and fears.  Yet, it is also relatively brief.  There are 66 books, but compare that to an encyclopedia or an ordinary dictionary.

Paul said, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).  To rightly divide the word, we must study it.  In so doing, we will know the difference between the Old and New Testaments, as well as right and wrong, good and evil, truth and error.  We will be able to rightly apply it in our lives and help others understand it too.

Let me encourage you to take the next 22 days to read through Psalm 119.  It is a Psalm that extols the commandments of God.  It is broken down into 22 paragraphs of eight verses each.  It will be an easy read each day.  The reason I suggest taking one paragraph per day is to give you time to reflect on each one.  Read each paragraph two or three times.  Let it sink into your mind.  Meditate on what is being said and think of the blessing of having an all-sufficient guide to life.

Look at the first verse now.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!

What does this teach you?

First, “the way” is the path of purity.  There is one way, the Lord’s way—the way revealed in His Word.  For us, it is the New Testament.  If we are not in “the way” we are defiled and damned.  See several passages in the New Testament that address “the way”—in fact just look at Acts (9:2; 16:17; 18:25, 26; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22).

Second, we must “walk” in the law.  This necessitates action.  Fellowship with God is not passive.  It takes effort on man’s part to live in righteousness.  We are to grow (2 Pet. 3:18).  If we are not growing, we are dying.  The Hebrew writer said, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).  The key for our point is “diligently.”  That is, we need concerted, focused service.

Go through the rest of Psalm 119 and reflect on these kinds of things; it will do you good.

God is spirit,
and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth.
- John 4:24

A Ready Defense
By Josh McDowell