How does God intend for us to treat his Word?

Deuteronomy 8:3“Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

Joshua 1:8“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

God intends for us to read and live by his word.

2 Kings 22:8-13Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it. Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.” Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king. When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”

Nehemiah 8:1-10All the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. . . . They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

God intends for us to respond with obedience to the convicting message delivered in his Word when it is read.

Psalm 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:25I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.

Psalm 119:28I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.

Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

God intends for us to derive encouragement, guidance, and caution from his Word.

Proverbs 30:5Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

God intends for us to depend on the truthfulness of his Word.

Isaiah 55:11“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

God intends for us to see the power of his Word for affecting others as well as ourselves as it is taken to heart.

Luke 24:27Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

God intends us to find Jesus everywhere in the word of God.

John 17:14“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”

Jesus gave to his disciples the words of God. When they repeated it and recorded it, they were expressing the very word of God.

Acts 6:2-4So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

The apostles understood that their primary charge was to communicate the word of God. There were other things that needed to be done, but those tasks were to be done by others. The apostles’ faithfulness to their calling insured that we have God’s word complete today.

2 Corinthians 4:2We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

Ephesians 6:17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

2 Timothy 2:9Because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.

God intends for us to apply the word of God honestly and without distortion, wielding it as a spiritual weapon against Satan. We can be confident that God’s word cannot be stopped from accomplishing its purposes.

Hebrews 4:12The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

God intends for us to submit to his work of pruning in our lives. This is the work of the word of God in our lives.

1 Peter 1:22-23You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

1 Peter 2:8“He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

God intends for us to learn about Jesus from his Word. And when we have received his Word, we must respond to his invitation to trust him and experience the new life God offers us through Jesus.

Revelation 6:9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony.

God intends for us to be faithful to his Word, even at the cost of our lives, for in it he has recorded the message that life in him continues beyond this life—and forever.