January 2011

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"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. . ."
Ephesians 5:8


Enjoying the Journey

 

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

 

            It's the beginning of a new year, and many of us will make resolutions.  One of the best is determining to carve out time to read and study the Bible regularly.  Reading through the Bible in a year is a good goal to which many have committed and been blessed, but that fast pace isn't for everyone.  It can lead to discouragement in those who begin, but for whatever reason, fall behind.  It can also lead those who are keeping up with the reading schedule, but who feel like they have little or no understanding of what they're reading to feel overwhelmed.  These feelings can lead to guilt, or to that, "I don't get it so what's the point?" kind of thinking that causes them to give up on reading the Bible entirely.  But I want to encourage you to read and study God's Word, not to conquer it, but to enjoy it!

            I love trees and study them with the intention of learning more about the mind of their Creator.  In forestry class, we studied photosynthesis, and the complicated chain of chemical light and dark reactions that take place inside each leaf when it absorbs sunlight. The more details I learned, the more complex and impossible it seemed to grasp.  The more I learned, the more I realized there was to learn, and I began to feel overwhelmed.  But the Lord reminded me that I didn't take up the study of trees to learn everything about them; I took up the study of them to learn something more than I knew before.  Recognizing that brought back my joy in the learning journey.

            In the same way, we don't read and study God's Word to learn everything in it, or everything about God, which would be impossible anyway, since He is infinite and we are not. God doesn't expect that of us, why should we?  We read and study to grow closer to God, and to learn something more than we knew before.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

            When we read God's Word, we take in its light which then photosynthesizes in us in beautiful ways we can't begin to understand.  But we don't have to understand how it works for it to work.  Taking in this light not only enriches our own inner lives, but it produces acts of love and service toward others that bring glory to God.

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

            So in 2011, I encourage you to let go of false expectations of yourself to conquer the Bible.  Open it and read something every day, beginning with this simple prayer, "Lord, please meet me here in Your Word."  It will be His delight to do so, and you'll rediscover, or maybe discover for the first time, what it means to enjoy the journey!

 

Daye Phillippo

December 2010