Thursday, August 15, 2024

Listen to the Word

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  (Joshua 1:8)

Do you read the Bible for information or for transformation? The first approach simply asks questions of the text; the second approach also allows the text to ask questions of you. The first approach attempts to cover as much material as possible; with the second approach, you might choose to stay in a holding pattern over words or phrases that are working on you. The goal of the first approach is to get through the Scripture; the goal of the second approach is to get Scripture through you. If you are reading for information, you hope to master the Bible. If you are reading for transformation, you hope to let the Bible master you.

Learning is good, but don’t settle for learning. Go for life change. Joshua 1:8 challenges you to meditate on God’s Word so you can do God’s Word. Approach Scripture seeking transformation, not just information.

Live the Word

Choose a key passage of Scripture (perhaps Ephesians 6:10-20 or Colossians 3:1-17). Take your time reading the passage, asking God to challenge you and change you through what you read.