Abiding in the ENTIRE Word of God
Today I’m celebrating 13 years of marriage to a wonderful man. Our marriage is better today than it ever has been and it’s ALL attributed to what I spoke of last week, seeking God. I know most don’t believe that’s the answer to their heart’s desires, needs, problems, concerns – but it is. When God’s truth and love fills our lives, it changes everything. Let me tell you a secret, Matthew 6:33 REALLY is true. Few believe the truth of this verse, because few truly seek God first. It’s a great loss for it affects everything in our lives. I’ve walked life on both sides, seeking and not, there is no comparison to the difference. I had no idea. But you don’t until you seek. You don’t know what you don’t know.
Last week I talked about the importance of seeking God, and how it’s foundational to our lives. This post expands on that topic in talking about an essential aspect to seeking, reading the ENTIRE Word of God being TAUGHT by the SPIRIT.
When we read the Bible it’s CRITICAL to read the ENTIRE Word; to give attention to all books. The more I talk to others, the more I’m learning that very few truly abide in the entire Word of God. Let me tell you it makes ALL the difference. The Bible fits together like a huge puzzle. Each verse, chapter, book is connected to the rest to create a fullness of truth as God desires us to know it. When we neglect certain parts, we are getting partial truth, and that leads to all kinds of problems.
If we leave out certain books, skim over others, read a verse hear and there, we aren’t allowing the Spirit the opportunity to teach us all we need to know. Especially in these days, we need to be abiding in the entire word of God trusting the Spirit to teach us for it’s the truth that will save us. 2 Thessalonians 2:10
For example on a serious note, much of what happens in the end days is spoken of by the prophets (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets Hosea through Malachi). Their words in line with the rest of the Bible create a picture of what will happen in the end. To understand the fullness of truth as God desires us to know for the times we are living in, we need to read the entire Word. When we abide, meditate, seek and look to the Holy Spirit to teach us, we are allowing ourselves access to some very important truths. The truth protects and guides us. Otherwise we will have partial truth and partial understanding, which leaves an open door to deception. So it’s not just reading the Bible, but the ENTIRE Bible with the instruction and guidance of the Holy Spirit that matters.
Here are some Tips for Reading the Word that are vital for diving deep into the Truth.
- Read the ENTIRE Word. I suggest one chapter from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament with a Psalm or Proverb each day.
- Give ATTENTION to all the books.
- Trust the Holy Spirit to TEACH you ALL things. 1 John 2:27, John 14:26. Your foundation of truth needs to be built by God, not man. A foundation built upon man’s words, opinions and interpretations of the Bible is shaky ground. In addition, the Spirit teaches in a way that man doesn’t so that the truth is written on our hearts and minds, changing us.
- Read not as a task to check off your list, but put your heart and soul into it. Meditate, abide, contemplate, and ask God for understanding. Read the Word with the ATTITUDE that you are communing with God, learning from Him. Draw near to Him through His Word as you would someone you love with a devotion, passion, desire to know Him as He is.
- RIGHTLY DIVIDE the Word 2 Timothy 2:15. Be observant for how the Spirit connects verses together bringing certain ones to mind as you read others.
- Read a VERSION close to the original Greek and Hebrew. Use the Strong’s concordance.
- Abide in the PURE Word – just you and God – trusting the Spirit to teach you what you need to know when you need to know it. There is a time for others’ words, but have the mindset that God is your primary teacher and that His instruction is foundational and all others secondary.
- PRAY for a passion for the truth. Abide, meditate, and listen.
- Read with the MOTIVE to seek God. Get to know Him as He is, to get to know His ways and truth – not to “fix” you or for a lesson to teach the Sunday school class. Ask God what does HE want to teach you today – and open up your mind and heart to anything He might want to show you. Your needs will be resolved as you seek Him FIRST.
- Read DAILY the REST of your life. No engagement is richer, deeper, more powerful and true. The Word is dynamic, powerful. Truth builds upon truth so there is no end to learning.
God has given us all we need to have His power move through our lives – His Word and His Spirit. The two work hand in hand. One without the other doesn’t work, but together they are a mighty force in our lives. When you seek God in this way, you move into true life – one of truth, protection, beauty, joy, peace, comfort and hope – one that is abundant.
Please don’t waste any more time on all the things that don’t matter and won’t make a difference, and do the one thing that will, seek God.
Living Light 
September 21, 2010 at 2:50 am
Such TRUTH truly “stirs the DEEP” in MY heart, Rachel! And I love how you remind us to SEEK HIM in the ENTIRE Word for our ENTIRE life!
These words “stirred” in my spirit when I think of your exhortation to us all!
“So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really ARE among those God has called and chosen. DO these things and you will NEVER fall away.” (Peter just listed the things necessary for living a GODLY life…one of which was “knowledge”…but it is, of course, REVEALED KNOWLEDGE which comes ONLY from SEEKING GOD.)
“THEN God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, I will ALWAYS REMIND YOU about THESE THINGS – even though you already know them and are standing FIRM in the TRUTH you have been taught! And it is only right that I KEEP ON REMINDING you as long as I live!….so I will work hard to make sure you always REMEMBER THESE THINGS after I am gone,” 2 Peter 1:10-15
THANK YOU, Rachel, for the “reminder” this morning! After many years (35 for me) of Bible study since I was 28…I sometimes “forget” the admonition you brought through this Word. But what you have shared is ABSOLUTELY TRUE, and I purpose to get back to this TIMELY REMINDER…and pursue my SEEKING of HIM in this manner, also!
You are a teacher AND an exhorter! Urging and warning God’s people in all wisdom to the TRUTH of His Word!
So glad God led our paths to cross…in THIS life! And will enjoy “walking the streets of GOLD” in Heaven with you, my friend….in the NEXT!
Much love,
Sandy
September 21, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Hi Sandy, what an encouragement you are! Thanks for all your words. And how we all need those reminders. 🙂
September 21, 2010 at 4:18 am
Powerful post, Rachel. (and congrats on your anniversary, by the way)
It’s amazing to think about the powerful tool and nourishing food we have with us through the Bible. It’s so small compared to all the books in the world but full of more truth and wisdom that all the writers in the world could imagine.
I’ve been guilty of overlooking certain books a lot… and of reading just to check off a list, which was exactly what I was doing the first time I read the whole Bible all the way through. It was actually something you said several months ago that prompted me to begin at the beginning again, reading through books I hadn’t really touched in a long time. So much has come to me that never stood out to me before, and I trust I’ll keep learning. I’m fairly sure I still have no idea how much more is waiting for me.
Thank you so much for the prayers I know you have prayed for me!
September 21, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Hi Ruth – it’s good to hear your diving into all the Word, it is so important in many ways – and it is a privilege to pray for you. 🙂
September 21, 2010 at 4:38 am
Congrats on your 13 Rachel–that is fantastic.
Your 10 list is excellent. Reading daily so that it becomes a habit and an essential part of one’s routine is difficult at first, but certainly enriching over the long-term.
September 21, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Hi Slamdunk – thanks! It goes by so fast. 🙂 Your right it is hard at first because it requires us to restructure our days and time, but critical.
September 21, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Rachel, congratulations to you and your husband on your anniversary !
I like your ten tips, starting with #1 especially. It’s interesting how we like to retreat to favorite verses or passages over and over to help us in our time of need, or even to recommend to others. There’s nothing really wrong with that, except we have to be careful that we don’t neglect other areas of God’s Word that could also prove beneficial if we just took the time to study them. Of course, we shouldn’t look at His Word with the emphasis on “what’s in it for me” as well. The goal is to know God and better understand His will. Reading His Word (the entire Word) is really the only sure way to do that, with guidance from the Holy Spirit.
About a month ago, I started a Bible reading plan that was developed by Professor Grant Horner (maybe you’ve already seen it). The plan calls for a a reading of ten chapters a day from different parts of the Bible. It sounds like a lot, but I’ve found it easier to read in this way than just a few chapters from one book. This plan allows you to have Scripture interpret Scripture, especially since you read so much of it every day. If interested, you can see a summary of it here: http://pastorbrett.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/professor-horners-bible-reading-plan/.
Anyway, thank you for spotlighting this today Rachel. I’ll be referring back to your ten tips often. We are in danger of neglecting God’s Word because of the amount of time (or lack of it) that we spend in it. Your post is a wakeup call and a good reminder for all of us.
Blessings to you –
September 21, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Hi Joe, Thanks for sharing your plan. Plans are good. It’s important to not get in the task-mentality where we read just to check it of the list or to get through the reading for the day. Reading to really meditate and abide in the Word is the goal – our approach makes all the difference.
September 22, 2010 at 4:10 am
I enjoyed seeing you and your husband radiating with such joy. Congratulations on number 13.
September 22, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Hi JoDee – thanks!
September 22, 2010 at 11:50 pm
I love this message, Rachel, because it is exactly on point to what we need to do to draw near to God. Abide in him and in his word. If only we fully understood the power that comes from our prayer life and Scripture reading – we would never stop! The more I read God’s word, the more he shows me of him and the richer my life is! It is amazing!
Congratulations on your recent anniversary. Now that is a picture of a good looking couple if ever I saw one!!! May God bless you both.
September 23, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Hi Marianne – thanks for the congrats. How time flies by. 🙂 And the power that comes into our lives from abiding in the Word and prayer – and those two things hand-in-hand is tremendous.
January 10, 2013 at 3:06 am
The emphasis on the pracmiy of the gospel here is a great reminder for people (1 Cor 15:3).But I don’t think this is actually right. The thing someone most supports from the Bible can be a result of many factors. It was either Machen or Luther or made the great point that if we are failing to stand up to the specific point that the devil is primarily attacking, we are not confessing the gospel.But the main reason I don’t think it’s right is because of passages like Jeremiah 22:15-16: Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of hte poor and needy; then it was well. _Is not this to know me?_ declares the Lord? In other words, knowing God results in being passionate for the things God is passionate about. The gospel is first and foremost; then there are critical implications that flow from it. Any one of these implications (or, alternatively, foundations of the gospel in the doctrines of grace) may be the thing most calling for our attention. The key is that all of this is in service of the gospel, rather than an interest that is disconnected from the gospel.Perhaps it’s a subtle distinction, but I think this is the heart of the issue.
September 23, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Rachel, Congratulations on 13 years. My husband and I are celebrating our 10 years together tonight. We are more in love now than when we took the first step down the aisle ten years ago today. God is so faithful to bring us through the best of times and the hard times stronger because we abide in Him. He has taught me so much these past couple of years about my need for Him and Him alone. His Word is powerful to the pulling down of strongholds and is more than able to teach, rebuke and train in righteousness. Prayer is the intimate link between the two. I LOVED your word today, Rachel. I know it spoke to all who read it. I look forward to meeting you in person one day when Christ comes back. You have been such an encouragement to me.
September 24, 2010 at 4:51 am
Hi Liz, thanks for all your kind words – and congratulations on 10 years! And I look forward to meeting you as well 🙂
September 24, 2010 at 1:13 am
I think God is getting a lot of us to seek out how to seek Him. I’m getting ready my next message on the same topic. Your tips are great. Thanks for encouraging others with your story as well.
September 24, 2010 at 4:50 am
Hi Trevor – thanks, glad you found them helpful – I found they make a huge difference.
September 24, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Good morning. Precept upon precept is imperative as it will keep us from believing and eventually proclaiming falsehood. A lopsided gospel, or another Jesus is incredibly dangerous. Such falsehood always begins when a person has “just enough scriptural understanding to get them into trouble”. I’m running at the moment, but wanted to stop in and at least say hi. I’ll have to read this more thoroughly later tonight, This is another post that will probably be linked to in the days ahead
Blessings always in Jesus name.
timbob
September 24, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Hi Timbob – glad you did stop by. You are right – it is precept upon precept – and that means sometimes we have to be okay with not having all the answers at this moment – but continue to seek and wait on God’s instruction.
December 5, 2010 at 1:46 am
Hey Rachel, congratulations to you and your husband on your thirteen years of marriage. In two months time my wife and I will celebrate 29 years of marriage. Without a doubt, all glory belongs to Him. For those who delight themselves in the Lord, they will have His desires imprinted upon their hearts. To seek the Lord in all of our ways and to find Him is pure joy. If we love Him more than we love our husbands or wives, then we will be far greater husbands or wives than we ever would have been. In the flesh it would seem that to love Jesus more than our family would be somehow neglectful, but like every matter of the Spirit, it runs counter to the worlds wisdom, it is counter intuitive. To love Jesus more is to be a better husband, a better wife, a better parent a better child. To love the Lord our God with our whole hearts is to be completely fulfilled. What flows from our encounters with Him is more love, more joy, more forgiveness, more mercy, more understanding, more patience. When we gaze upon the majesty and the glory of our King then , like Moses on the mountain, we glow, literaly glow and people comment on it. May we all stand amazed and cry Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty, and be undone and envisioned……..brother Frank
December 6, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Hi Frank – congrats to you guys as well!! And how absolutely true you are – when we truly put God first then all our relationships, especially marriage, benefit. We make life so difficult on ourselves when we don’t heed His Word – which is perfect, love, powerful, and freedom.