A Driven Purpose

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

  Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:   Romans 14:11

For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

Memory verse: Psalm 90:14

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  

Today's reading: 2 SAMUEL 21-22 LUKE 18:24-43

A Driven Purpose

A good pastor's(shepherd's) heart cries out for people to know God's Holy Word, the Bible and that is because God wants His people to know Him and love Him with all they have(Matthew 22:37-40).

Reading the Bible should be a natural thing or a desire for reading and knowing God's word should come naturally for the person who has been changed and recreated (of the Spirit of God). It should go without saying-but-some seem to have lost the feeling of need for the Word of God.

Believers-all believers whether new ones or well aged-all need God's word. New believers are 'simple' in their understanding of God's word. Believers at any point who have not read much Bible are simple in their understanding. There is a verse that says:

"The unfolding of your words gives light;

it gives understanding to the simple."

Psalm 119:130

The more we read, the more we understand why we need to read more. Some have been frustrated and stopped reading for many reasons.

Paul writes: "Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." 2 Timothy 2:7

If you are reading this, you are reading it on a screen of something that has a search engine(with very few exceptions) so this is my suggestion. Type in the search bar 'Biblegateway'. When it appears, click on Bible reading plans. Explore-but you will finally be in the scripture if you don't give up-so don't give up-and the name of the translation will be there with a downward arrow at the end. Click on it and a list of translations will drop. Scroll through until you find the 'Easy-to-Read' version. Start there. Read, read, read. "The Lord will give you understanding in everything", that is, if you think over what God says.

It will become, in time, as natural as having a conversation with a loved one-because it is. God is speaking and you are listening and asking questions.

Why is it so hard for some? Sin living in us-the natural man-has a contrary or just plain wicked attitude to God's paths of righteousness so our natural mind runs from reading God's word. That's where all the excuses come from. Those thoughts must be taken captive(2 Corinthians 10:5) to free up our minds to go after what God says to us in His word.

 Go after God's word with driven purpose. You, we, must read and think about God's word for us. It is alive for us right now and always and God will give us understanding.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for not hungering after Your word for me. Give me a driven purpose for reading Your word and listening and thinking about You.

God of all divine answers,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen