Mark 4:24-25 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you-even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what has will be taken away from him.”

We as Christians have the light of Christ revealed to us. The word is not longer hidden from us. The Holy Spirit gives us insight into the word of God. There are parts of it that we do not understand, we may not be able to use the truth right now, so we have not been given its understanding. As we grow and put into practice the truths found in God’s word our understanding increases. The truth of God’s word is clear, but our limited understanding oftentimes keeps us from fully understanding what God is trying to tell us or show us in his word.

As we read and understand and put into practice those things we do sees our knowledge grows. Our desire to obey grows. We sharpen our spiritual eyes to see and understand. Sometimes as I read God’s word it is as though a passage that once seemed hard for me to grasp in now crystal clear. Its meaning falls into my heart like a seed on good ground and I suddenly see what the text was talking about. Perhaps it is because up until this point I did not need that particular scripture, but as I have studied and saught to obey my mind can now grasp what the word is saying and why.

In Mark 4:26-29 we read, “He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself, the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Our spiritual growth is slow and steady. Even when we do not realize it seeds that are planted in our hearts start to grow and before long we have a harvest of understanding. We start out as baby Christians just able to understand enough to get us started on our spiritual walk, but as we read God’s word and pray our understanding increases, our faith grows, our spiritual legs get stronger.

As a child of God, I want to read God’s word and put it into practice. I want to see his truth through clear spiritual eyes and obey what the word tells me to do. I know that as I do this my understanding increases, I have gone from being an infant in Christ to a mature follower of Christ.

We are told that God’s word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intents of man. (Hebrews 4:12)

We can grow in our walk with the Lord if we never read his word. We cannot understand what our walk of faith should look like if we never read the word. We cannot have the tools to fight the enemy if we neglect to read God’s word. If I told you that reading something would save your life…would you do it? Well, this book, the Bible, can save your life! It can give you everything you need to live in this dry and desert land that we inhabit.

We read these words in Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” The text is clear, knowing God’s word, hiding it in our hearts can keep us from sin.
If we study and commit to memory the word of God it will prick our hearts when we are about to do something which displeases God and is sin in his eyes. As a Christian do you not want to walk in a way pleasing to the one who paid the ultimate price for you?

When we have only a head knowledge of God and his word it does nothing for us. When temptation comes our way we easily dismiss the promptings of the Holy Spirit to walk away or look away. But when God’s word is in us, when we are seeking to obey it, I promise you it will come to your mind and heart. It is like being stung by a bee, suddenly what seemed like a good idea has now lost its excitement, you know that God is saying do not go there, do not look there.

If we never feed on the meat in God’s word we stay spiritually immature. When the enemy comes against us or tries to entice us we do not have what we need to fight against him. He is a smart foe, he knows our weaknesses and he will attack in the very area you think you are safe. We need to be able to speak scripture out loud for our sake and his.

Jesus used the word of God when he had been in the desert fasting and praying for 40 days. There is power in God’s word, as a believer don’t you want power in your life? Don’t you want to know what pleases the Lord and do them? Don’t you want the seed that has been dropped into the soil of your heart to produce a plant? I do!

I want to know God’s word, I have experienced first hand what knowing it and applying it can do in my life. I am eager to understand its truths and walk worthy of the calling God has placed on me.

If I can encourage you to open your Bible, start at the beginning or start in the New Testament. Ask God to open your eyes that you may see and understand. Pray and ask him to help you put into practice those things which he calls us to do when you do you will
find your understanding growing and your desire to obey increasing. You will become a mature follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will have power in your efforts to ward off the enemy.

He is waiting, His word is living and active, and it does have the power to change your life! Now go read!!!