Shining like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.
(Philippians 2:15-16)
Isn’t that a great thought!? Not only to shine like stars in the universe, but to hold out the WORD OF LIFE! To me, it is so precious. My focus for this page is the Word. God’s Word. The Bible. What is the Bible to you? To me the Bible is precious. I memorize it so that if it is not with me I will still have it hidden in my heart. It helps me when I am in trouble by giving me advice to follow. It gives me comfort when I am anxious. It keeps me from sin.
I ask again, what is the Bible to you? Psalm 119:11 --I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you.--That is what the Bible was to King David. Think for a moment… Do you read His Word daily? Memorize it? Apply it? Proclaim it?
Reading it:
It is always healthy in your walk with God to read His Word. As a true believer, this should be natural. God’s Word tells us how to live, and how to go about doing that. It is all we need.
Ever go somewhere (example: grocery store) to get something for someone, but when you get there you realize that you never asked what they needed (also: what size, how much)? I have. Just as it is with this case, so it is with the Word of God. We are going to the Grocery Store of Life. When we go through life without knowing what God wants for us then when we finally make it to the Grocery store of Life we realize that we don’t know what our Master wanted us to get. We miss out on our whole purpose of life and it’s blessings, because of our ignorance. If only we would have listened to our Master. We listen to God by reading his Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 --Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.-- See how important reading God’s Word is? If we don’t read his Word then it is like going into the Spiritual War without basic training. Can we fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:12; Ephesians 6:10-17) if we were not even prepared, or trained, for fighting? We would be fighting rather ineffectively! According to Ephesians… Is not the sword in which we fight with the Word of God? Then if we have not the sword of Spirit (which is the Word of God) then what have we to destroy Satan and the demons?
Summary for reading God’s Word: Should be daily and continuously. A “Must” for the true believer. I am fortunate to have numerous Bibles and the right to own them. In China, Bible’s are forbidden. Out of a thousand people a couple, at most, will have one. Some are willing to risk their lives, even to die for a Bible! Have mercy on us dear and loving Father, for ignoring your Word when it is so simple to obtain.
Now! For the M.A.P. guide to success in God’s Word! These ways of using the Bible will guide your relationship with God into victory over evil.
- Memorizing
- Applying
- Proclaiming
Memorizing:
Memorizing the Bible may sound boring. Perhaps, you are thinking: “I study enough at school!” Believe me. It is fulfilling and enjoyable. The true believer will desire to know God’s Word. Psalm 42:1 --As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.-- I love to memorize verses. Here are some reasons to memorize verses:
- When witnessing, you can quote verses to the unbeliever. You can go through the Plan of Salvation smoother, if you know the references.
- When you are tempted to sin, you need encouragement, or you need help, then you can always quote to yourself God’s Word.
Now. Here is my method that is effective, and quite inexpensive:
What you will need:
- 3 x 5 index cards: (I prefer this size because they are big enough to put long verses on and also are small enough to be space-efficient. Also I choose white, because they cost least.)
- Three index card holders: These will hold your index cards by category.
- One comfortable pen and white-out: Comfortable and fun to write with, because if you are really serious about learning God’s Word then a good pen will help you. (Pencils can be used, but the lead can smear. Pens are more permanent.)
- God’s Word
- One open heart who desire’s to truly hide his Word in their heart.
Now for the directions:
It is quite simple. Let’s take Psalm 119:11 --I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you.--, for an example. Write the reference (Psalm 119:11) on the blank side of the index card. Write the verse (I treasure your word…) on the other side of the index card. Then put the verse in Box 1 (the first index card holder). (Box 1 will be for verses you don’t know, yet. Box 2 will be for the verses you know. Box 3 will be for verses you know real well.) Once you memorize the verse then put it in Box 2. [In Box 2 you will go over these verses quite frequently.] When a verse in Box 2 is remembered real well, then move it to Box 3. [The verses in Box 3 will be reviewed less than the verses in Box 2, because you know them better.] When the verses in Box 3 are known so well that you know you will never forget it, then you may take them out of the Box and place them in a storage place (such as: a shoe box; a folder; a drawer; someone’s mailbox (well, maybe not the last one). Make sure that you know the reference and verse very well before you place it in storage. If you place it in storage, then it will be “hidden in your heart” never to leave it!
If you would like me to give you my opinion on some great verses to memorize then ask me through an e-mail. It would be even better to ask me for the subject… (Such as: cursing; love; Spiritual Warfare; purity)
Applying:
This is very important. Now that you have read the verse, and memorized the verse, you need to apply it! Ephesians 4:29 --Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.-- By applying this verse you will:
a) not curse
b) watch how you say things
This is essential. God not only wants us to know what he says, he wants us to obey it!
Proclaiming:
To proclaim the Word of God is effective. It can be looked at like this. The Sword of the Word of God is made sharper and sharper as you memorize and apply the verses to your life. When you proclaim God’s Word it is like swinging your sword at the enemy. Proclaiming the Word of God breaks down the barriers of evil, and bring Salvation to this lost and dying world. Romans 10:14 --How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them?-- Romans 10:10 says to tell the Good News to others. We must proclaim God’s message in order to attack evil and break down it’s walls!
I close with this: Will you read and hide God’s Word in your heart? It is time for true believers to know what is in God’s Word. Will you apply God’s Word to your life? It is time for this world to see true example’s of a Christian and not a hypocrite who does whatever feels good to them. Will you proclaim the Word of God to your friends, your family, and your school? It is time for this world to hear about Jesus. It is time!