Why should we know God's Word?

In our day and age where anti-intellectualism runs rampant in the visible church, it is not surprising to see poll after poll verify what students of scripture have known for many years. The visible church does not know much about the scriptures they profess to believe in. This is sad considering many saints during the Reformation period lost their lives for the sake of being able to read and study God's word. Not to mention the many passages in scripture that speak as such:

Isaiah 66:2 This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
John 8:31-32 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Psalm 19:7-8 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

The posts on this blog will address essential Biblical doctrines of the Christian faith. You can find much of the background for the posts here. My prayer for these posts is that the people who read them will be encouraged to open their Bibles and not just read a verse or two, but learn them and indeed, be transformed by them. As Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17). This is my prayer as well.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

O Lover to the Uttermost - The Valley of Vision

This prayer is from that invaluable book of Puritan prayers, The Valley of Vision.

O LOVER TO THE UTTERMOST,
May I read the meltings of your heart to me
in the manger of your birth,
in the garden of your agony,
in the cross of your suffering.

Deepen in me a sense of my holy
relationship to you as my spiritual
Bridegroom and my best Friend.

I think of
your glory and my vileness,
your majesty and my smallness,
your beauty and my deformity,
your purity and my filth,
your righteousness and my iniquity.

You have loved me eternally and unchangeably.
May I love you as I am loved by you.

You have given yourself for me,
may I give myself for you.

You have died for me, may I live for you.

May I never dally with the world's allurements but
walk by your side,
listen to your voice,
be clothed with your graces,
and be adorned with your righteousness.
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