WISDOMÂ FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FEBRUARY 10, 2023
TOPIC: SOME IMPORTANT TRUTHS ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD (2)
BY T. O. BANSO
“Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us” (Good News Translation).
In the first part of the devotional on this topic, I discussed seven important truths about the Word of God, namely:
1. God created the world through His Word.
2. The Word of God is effective.
3. The Word of God is truth.
4. The Word of God is pure and purified seven times.
5. The Word of God is unchanging or unchangeable; it endures forever.
6. We are saved by the Word of God.
7. The Word of God sanctifies and cleanses.
Today, I will share other important truths about the Word of God that will help you in your Christian journey.
8. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17 says to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The sword of the spirit is part of the whole armour of God. Christians must arm themselves with the Word of God. As Hebrews 4:12 says, the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
9. The Word of God is spirit and life. Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (New King James Version). Note the latter part of this verse. The Word of God is both spirit and life. The Easy-to-Read Version renders the latter part of John 6:63 thus: “But the things I have told you are from the Spirit, so they give life.” The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6b). The Word of God gives life.
10. The Word of God will make one wiser. Psalm 119:96-100 says, “Nothing is perfect except your words. Oh, how I love them. I think about them all day long. They make me wiser than my enemies because they are my constant guide. Yes, wiser than my teachers, for I am ever thinking of your rules. They make me even wiser than the aged” (The Living Bible). The Word of God gives one understanding. Psalm 119:130 says the entrance of God’s words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. If you want to become wiser or have more understanding, study the Word of God.
11. The Word of God will guide you and keep you from sin. Someone said that the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible. The writer of Psalm 119 asks: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (verse 9 New King James Version). The antidote to sin is the Word of God. When you obey the Word of God, you will not fall into sin. Verse 11 of Psalm 119 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (New King James Version). If you keep the Word of God in your heart, your feet will not slip (Psalm 37:31).
12. Meditation on and obedience to the Word of God bring success and blessing. There is power in the Word of God, but we must not only listen to it or read it, we must also meditate on it and obey it. Unfortunately, many people don’t do these. Therefore, they deny themselves the benefits. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 New King James Version).
In Luke 11:28b, Jesus said blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. As Romans 2:13 says, not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified. The psalmist says in Psalm 119:15 that he will meditate on God’s precepts, and contemplate His ways. He also says in verse 48 that he will lift up his hands also to His commandments, which he loves and meditate on His statutes. Furthermore, in verse 78b, he says he will meditate on God’s precepts.
Mediate on the Word of God – ponder it, think deeply about it, mutter it or quietly speak it to yourself, and turn it over in your mind for better understanding. Then, obey it. James 1:25 says he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
13. The Word of God gives direction in life. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (New King James Version). The Word of God will show you the right way to follow. It will illuminate your path and you will not walk in darkness. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).
Some people neglect the Word of God and assume they know what to do or that they’re doing the right but they self-destruct and regret it later. “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23 New King James Version).
14. The Word of God is sweeter than honey. David said, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 New King James Version). God is good and His Word is sweeter than honey. If you know this, you will delight in the Word of God. “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 New King James Version). No wonder Job said, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food” (Job 23:12 New King James Version).
The Word of God is sweeter than honey. It must be treasured. “God’s laws are pure, eternal, just. They are more desirable than gold. They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb” (Psalm 19:9-10 The Living Bible).
15. The Word of God gives hope, patience, encouragement, life, and peace. Romans 15:4 says, “Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us” (Good News Translation). Those who feed on the Word of God have hope, through the patience and encouragement the Word of God gives. Those who don’t feed on the Word of God don’t have hope and some of them easily give up during life’s crises and may take drastic actions, including suicide.
Psalm 119:49-50 says, “Remember your promise to me, your servant; it has given me hope. Even in my suffering I was comforted because your promise gave me life” (Good News Translation). The Word of God will give you hope, comfort you and give you life.Â
The Word of God also gives peace. “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165 New King James Version). As Isaiah 26:3 says, God will keep in perfect peace, he whose mind is stayed on Him, because he trusts in Him. There is in the Bible a promise of long life and peace to those who keep God’s command. Obey the commands of God for a length of days and long life and peace they will add to you (Proverbs 3:1-2).
16. The Word of God heals. Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction” (New King James Version). The Word of God heals. Therefore, listen to the Word, meditate on it, confess it, and pray it into your life.
In Luke 5:17, the Bible says as Jesus was teaching one day, the power of the Lord was present to heal those who were sick. Receive the Word of God with faith. God heals through His Word.
What I have discussed are just some of the important truths about the Word of God. This is not exhaustive. But this should help you to treasure the Word of God and enjoy the benefits of the Word of God in a Christian’s life and through him. 1 Peter 2:2 says as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby. Moreover, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16a).
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: Father, I repent for not spending enough time in Your Word; forgive me. Holy Spirit, help me to invest enough time in the Word of God. I receive hope, patience, encouragement, life, and peace from Your Word, Father. Â Let Your Word give direction to everyone who needs direction in life. Let Your power be present to heal the sick as believers teach Your Word.
(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
  
  
  
  
