WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL
JANUARY 6, 2023
TOPIC: DEVELOP THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO THE WORD OF GOD
BY T. O. BANSO
“He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God” (John 8:47 New King James Version).
It is very important to develop the right attitude toward the Word of God. In Jeremiah 36, Jehoiakim, king of Judah, did not behave like his father, Josiah, who trembled at the book of the law when it was read, and saw how the Israelites had violated the law (2 Kings 22:8-13).
Jehoiakim rebelled against the Word of God. When Jehudi, one of his officials, had read three or four columns from the scroll containing the Word of God Jeremiah had dictated to his secretary, Baruch, the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire until the entire scroll was consumed (Jeremiah 36:20-25)
What is your attitude the Word of God? Jesus said to the Jews, “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God” (John 8:47 New King James Version). Don’t rebel against the Word of God, as Jehoiakim did. Psalm 107:10-11 says some people sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons, because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High.
Jehoiakim could burn the scroll, but he couldn’t burn the Word of God! God gave Jeremiah again, and even more, the content of the scroll that Jehoiakim had burnt (Jeremiah 36:32). Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:9 that he suffered trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God or Message of God was not chained.
How to develop the right attitude to the Word of God
1. Read the Word of God daily (Colossians 4:16; Matthew 21:42; 2 Kings 22:8, 10). Ministers of God should read the Word of God to people. Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary, read the Word of God to the people and the king’s officials (Jeremiah 36:10, 14-15). Joshua read all the words of the law to the Israelites (Joshua 8:34-35). Each person should also read the Bible himself privately (Joshua 1:8; Acts 17:11).
2. Be attentive to the Word of God. Listen attentively to the Word of God. Avoid distractions. In Nehemiah 8:3, all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law, as Ezra read it. Verse 9 says all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.
3. Reverence the Word of God. Tremble at His Word. In Nehemiah 8:5, when Ezra opened the book (the Word of God), all the people stood up. That was reverence for the Word of God.
In Ezra 9:4a, Ezra said everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to Him. The psalmist says in Psalm 119:161b that his heart trembles only at the Word of God.
4. Seek to understand the Word of God. Don’t read the Word or listen to the Word for the sake of it; seek to understand it. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers of the Word of God. Jesus says in 1 John 2:20, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (New King James Version).
Furthermore, listen to those who want to explain the Word of God to you. In Nehemiah 8, the people understood the words that were declared to them (verses 8 & 12). The family heads, the priests, and the Levites came back the following day to hear more teaching on the law of God and gain more understanding (verses 13-14).
In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about the need to hear (listen to) and understand the word of God (Matthew 13:18-23). The Ethiopian eunuch sought to understand the Word of God he was reading. God sent Phillip to him, who explained it to him. He believed and was baptized (Acts 8:26-39).
5. Humble yourself and repent. When the Word of God calls you to repentance, humble yourself, and repent. Don’t be arrogant, stubborn, or reject the Word of God (2 Kings 22:11-13, 18-20).
6. Fear God and obey Him. Those who have no fear (reverence) of God, easily disobey His Word. The Word of God is not for debate; it is for obedience (Nehemiah 13:1-3; Deuteronomy 31:9-13; 2 Kings 23:1-3; Jeremiah 36:16; 1 John 2:5). Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (New King James Version).
7. Meditate on the Word of God regularly. To meditate means to ponder on, think deeply on, reflect upon, or turn or revolve a matter, issue, or topic in the mind. Meditating on the Word of God must be followed by obedience to the Word (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:15, 78, 23, 48, 97, 99, 148). Meditation has great benefits.
8. Receive the Word of God with joy and faith, and trust in it (1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:2). As you receive the Word of God with faith, your faith also increases (Romans 10:17).
In 2 Kings 7:1-2, the officer assisting the king didn’t receive the Word of God with faith. He died just as the Prophet Elisha had said. But Mary received the Word of God with faith (Luke 1:38). She became pregnant, although she was a virgin.
Also, Peter received the Word of Jesus with faith and had a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch of fish (Luke 5:5). Trust in the Word of God. The psalmist says in Psalm 119:42b that he trusts in the Word of God. Receive His Word with joy (Psalm 119:162; Jeremiah 15:16).
9. Speak the Word with boldness (faith). The Sanhedrin noticed how Peter and John had spoken with boldness before them (Acts 4:13). After they had charged them not to preach again in the name of Jesus and released them, the apostles prayed to God to enable them to speak with all boldness (Acts 4:29). Share the word of God with others with boldness, not with fear. God has not given you the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).
Confess the Word of God, the promises of God, with faith. The psalmist says, “I believed, therefore have I spoken” (Psalm 116:10a King James Version). Paul quoted this scripture in 2 Corinthians 4:13.
10. Remember the Word of God. One way to remember the Word of God is to memorize it. Read and memorize the Word regularly. Don’t forget His Word. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (New King James Version). If you hide the Word in your heart, you won’t forget it.
Psalm 119:16 says, “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (New King James Version). Develop the right attitude to the Word of God.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to develop the right attitude to the Word of God. Help me to listen to, study, meditate on, and understand the Word of God. More importantly, Father, let me not be a hearer or reader only; make me a doer.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T.O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
Â
  
  
  
  
