ENJOYING THE WORD

Thy words were found, and I did
eat them; and thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by thy name, O Lord
God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16

It goes back to college days....It was late afternoon while in my dorm room that a favorite Christian song came on my radio. I knew it was a favorite of another girl down the hall, a dear friend. I walked quickly down to the other end of the hall where my friend resided to let her know her favorite was on the radio.

Usually it was the courtesy to knock before entering another persons room but on this occasion, I did a quick knock and walked in. My friend was laying sideways on her bed on her stomach, arms folded on the bed's edge looking down toward the floor. It was odd enough but I asked her if she was okay. She looked at me with her usual huge, warm smile and let me know she was just having a recreation time...in the Word. I must admit that I was stunned at her comment. I walked around her bed and sure enough, there on the floor beside her bed was her open Bible. She had used the word “recreation” with regard to her Bible reading in that moment.

When I think of anything to do with recreation, I had thought of relaxing, sports, hobbies, and even fun but never with regard to the Word of God. I'm not sure I remembered about that favorite song that day...I was somewhat stunned trying to grasp this new concept my friend seemed to have already come to know. Let me quickly say that I don't know of anyone who ever took the Bible more seriously that my sweet friend. It was nothing frivolous to her. It was sacred and serious to her in every way, but she had a relationship with her Bible I had never known or ever thought about.

In my contacts through the years with ladies either in Sunday school classes or Bible study groups, many have expressed a difficulty in approaches to the Word of God. It would seem that reading or studying it appears for many to be a chore, a have-to activity, almost a bother or even drudgery. Perhaps many of us have felt some of those things in time past, but would never admit it.

Whatever our approach to our Bibles, it must mean we have an intent of hearing from the Lord in our reading. We should never walk away with nothing learned. One can read and read the Bible and come away with nothing. We should always approach the word first by involving the Holy Spirit. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, all is vain without His personal instruction. Our reading doesn't have to be toilsome and drudgery. We can relax and enjoy our time with the blessed Word. Treat it like a love letter from someone dear to you. The Bible is a love letter to us that is unmatched by any other communications of love from others.

Father, we thank You for putting into our hands, copies of your Word that we know to be Your love letter to us. Thank You for it's correction, guidance and love for us as only You can reveal. Help us to not only read the Word faithfully but to live it. In Jesus name...Amen