Day 2: Living In The Word - How to be Victorious over the Enemy

“They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.” (Psalm 19:10-11, NLT)

We didn’t own a Bible as I was growing up, and I had never read a word of the Scriptures before age 13. A seventh-grade classmate shared the gospel with me, and I began reading the Word soon after I became a believer that same year. It was all new and amazing to me: the Garden of Eden, the fall of Adam and Eve, the tower of Babel, the commission of Moses, the dividing sea. In fact, I will never forget the first time I saw a rainbow after reading Genesis 9:12-17!

Having seen God’s handiwork in creation (Psalm 19:1-6), the psalmist in today’s reading rejoiced that God specifically makes himself known through his inspired Word. That Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, pure, true, and fair (Psalm 19:7-9). It revives the soul, makes wise the simple, brings joy to the heart, and gives insight for living. It is, in fact, “more desirable than gold” and “sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.”

More desirable than gold and sweeter than honey from the honeycomb—that’s what the Word of God is. Those strong images speak of treasure and delight, reminding us that even a taste of the Word is sweet. That Word warns us of the consequences of not following God, and it guides us toward great reward if we follow it. It teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, and trains us, equipping us to be the followers God wants us to be (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Today’s text in Psalm 19 push me to ask this question: “Is the Word of God more important to me than wealth, and is it sweeter to me than honey going down my throat?” Put another way, would my Christian life continue as is with little change if I had no access to the Bible? Would I miss the Word at all?

It’s easy, in fact, to take for granted our access to the Word of God. What was once amazing to us when we first met Christ can become routine, normal, and even seemingly dull at times. Even though you are reading this devotion right now, it’s possible that’s the case for you today. You, too, may need to renew your own commitment to the Word. If so, join with me in doing so.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Thank God that you have access to his Word. Many of us, in fact, have more Bibles in our homes than we have human beings.
2. If you don’t already have a Bible reading plan, set one for at least the next week. You might, for example, read the Gospel of Mark by reading a little more than two chapters each day—and pray that God would make his Word sweet to you again.