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Reading God's Word

“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)
The Word of God has been my life’s work.  I went to Seminary in 1972 convinced of God’s call to enter into vocational service.  I did not know what I was being called to, but I knew that I wanted to serve God with my life in whatever field He determined.

One day in our Seminary chapel, a now long-forgotten chapel speaker who was speaking on a now long-forgotten subject read from the text in the Old Testament book of Ezra
“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).  

Immediately my heart and mind were warmed and I knew this was my call.  I would give my life to teaching God’s word.


It has been my joy to do this now for 42 years.  I have done it as a Pastor in our church fellowship.  
I have done it on the Mission field training local Pastors.  
I have done it in classrooms – Bible schools, Colleges and Training Schools.  
I have had the joy of teaching God’s word to a classroom of a few students and to a church assembly over a thousand.  
It does not make any difference the size of the group – it is the joy of teaching the Word of God that gives me passion.

Words have power. They can build up and transform or they can tear down and destroy. Scripture tells us that God created the universe by his all-powerful word. That same word took flesh in Jesus Christ who was sent from the Father to redeem a fallen race: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 
His words are words of life because he speaks what the Father has given him (John 8:28).  His words not only have power to instruct, but power to heal, restore, and remake us in the image of God. 

Paul the Apostle said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). What does it mean to have Christ’s word dwelling in us? 

If you have a favorite author or two, you enjoy reading their literary works. Sometimes you can’t get enough, so you search for everything they wrote, even their letters and biography, because these can often reveal important things about the personal life and thoughts of the author.  But the people we know the best are those we live with and share our lives with on a personal, intimate level. 

God’s word alive in us 

God is the greatest of all authors and the author of life itself. He comes to dwell with us through his Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). 

If we accept his gracious invitation, God literally comes alongside of us and teaches us to walk this journey of life with His wisdom and strength.

Peace

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