Applying God’s Word to My Life

Taylor Simpson

September 22, 2005

            In studying the occurrences of the word “word” in the Bible, I can see three categories. The first is God’s spoken word, promise, or commandment given directly to man. I found these to be mainly in the Old Testament. The second is God’s Word: the Bible. Examples of this are mostly in the New Testament. The third category is that of words spoken by man. The verses about this relate to how we should use our tongue and on keeping our promises.

            Looking in the Bible for verses that directly involve God’s spoken word, commandment, or promise to His people, I found that they could be split into different groups according to what they teach about His words. However, since there are so many of these groups, I will only look closely at those that apply directly and personally to my life.

            The first is about obeying His commandments. The Old Testament has many illustrations of what happens when a person disobeys God’s commandments. 1 Kings 13:26 is a prophet’s reaction to a man of God being slain by lions. He says “… (He) was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore, the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion…according to the word of the Lord.” This is shocking to me because my first reaction was “What? He was a man of God, and yet he was killed for just disobedience?” This teaches me that even a “good” person, a man of God, will still receive consequences for his actions.

             Also, in 1 Chronicles, Saul was killed because of his “transgression which he committed… against the word of the Lord, which he kept not…” I, as an individual, must hear God’s calling on my life and obey Him. Jeremiah 22:29 is a simple plea, “O earth, earth, earth; hear the word of the Lord.” What this means to me is that if I will simply hear the word of the Lord and accept it, I will reach milestones in my walk with the Lord.

            There are many reasons for me to obey God’s word, besides the one of maybe being destroyed if I do not obey. I have good reason to be able to obey it because I know it is trustworthy and that it is true. Psalm 119 has a lot about trusting God’s words, and in verse 105 it says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Everything the Lord told the prophets came true, and is coming true. Ezekiel 12:25 contains a powerful word spoken by God to Ezekiel. “For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass…” I tend to only do things if I know for certain they will work out. Reading these verses tells me that if I follow God’s word, nothing will go wrong. Yet that is not always true in the way that I think. I can trust that God will let things work out the best for me according to His purpose, not mine. Trusting in that fact is the only true trust.

            The last two groups that are in this category of the words, promises and commandments of the Lord are the power of His words, and how we can rejoice in His words. Psalm 33:6 says “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” Jeremiah 15:16, “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.” In Psalm 119, David says that he found God’s word, and rejoiced as if he had found a treasure. I have always loved the parts of the Bible where it only talks about God’s majesty because it makes me know that my faith is not in vain. I need to cherish those times that God speaks to my heart, rejoice in them, count them as a great treasure, and obey His true and trustworthy calling.

            The second category is man’s work inspired by God’s works and words. This is, of course, the Bible. Teaching about how to use the Bible is mostly found in the New Testament, especially in the letters of the apostles to the church. The New Testament has always been the part of the Bible I most enjoy reading, because Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John used practical object lessons to touch people’s heart. It is easier for me to understand the gospel message when it is taught like that.

             Now that Jesus is no longer walking on earth, we still have a way of communicating to Him; through prayer. Yet He does not always have to speak to our hearts. He can speak to us through the scriptures, which were written by God through man. God has a purpose for every word He moved His servants to write for us to keep.

            Meditating on scripture is, then, very important. In 2 Peter, Peter talks of scoffers that will come and temptations they will bring with them. Being firmly grounded in scripture will keep us from falling when we are faced with these people. 2 Peter 1:5-8 gives guidelines on how to strive for knowledge of the Word. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse helps me to know what I should strive for in my life. It also tells me that keeping God’s word in my heart will give me wisdom in tempting situations and insight for when I need to make decisions. It will also help me to better be a light shining in a dark place, and to be armed with scripture at the times when God calls on me to witness to someone.

            It is just as important to be obedient to the scriptures as it is to be obedient to God’s commandments spoken directly from Him to my heart. In Luke, Jesus is teaching when one of His disciples comes to tell Him that His mother and brothers are waiting to see Him. Jesus replies in Luke 8:21 “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” Being called brethren of Christ is something I hold dear, and it comes only from obeying His word. Again, in Luke 11:28, Jesus says “…blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” In Acts 13, it says that the message of salvation is sent to those who fear God. It is only possible to understand the scripture if I am willing to accept it and follow it.

            The examples of the truth of the Bible are seemingly endless. Every study shows that the Bible is the most accurate book ever written. It is supported by science, history, and by the difference it makes in people’s lives. 2 Peter 1:19-21, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” “Take heed” refers to obeying the scripture. We do well to take heed, because the Bible is true and trustworthy.

            The last category is that of teaching the Word. No one knows when Jesus will come back, but I do know His commandment. Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The apostles in the letters to the church have much to say about teaching and admonishing each other in the faith, and encouraging each other to be faithful.

            As always, God is the only one who can change my life. No matter how much I study the scriptures, it will never make any difference unless I really strive toward being more like God in everything I do. Applying small bits of scripture to my life in practical ways will make me grow tremendously toward my goal of being without spot and blameless in the sight of God.