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What better subject matter can we cover than the Word of God on the first day of the first month of a brand-new year?

Of course the precious Word of God ought to be of paramount importance to us all, but sometimes we let things slip. Perhaps we’re too busy to make the time to allow God to speak to us through His Word. Perhaps our hearts have grown cold, and our interest has waned; something else appears to be more interesting and grabs our attention.

But if we were to but stop and think about where everything comes from that sustains us each day we might realise none of these things ‘just happen’. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4: 4.

Everything that we have is given to us - because He said so!

All our basic provisions and so much more are ours to enjoy daily by His kind permission. More often than not we take it all for granted.

But then things get a little bit more interesting when we grow to appreciate the fact that we are not only recipients of the goodness of God - because He said so, but everyone of us either owns a copy of the Word of God - a Bible, or can acquire one. And if we do not own a tangible copy of the Bible of our own we can access to one on our Device. How wonderful is that? 

We are so honoured and privileged to be able to handle the Word of God and read the sacred words for ourselves. While we have the opportunity we must make every moment count and soak up every word until it all becomes part of our lives.

As we commit ourselves to getting alone to read His Word it doesn’t take too long before we discover that the words that we are reading are sacred, alive, and relevant to our every need at any given moment. The Word of God is full of precious promises, words of comfort, affirmation, encouragement, and wisdom to equip us for whatever we have to face in our daily lives.

If we are fearful there are multitudes of promises to comfort and to give courage. If we are sad, there are plenty more to cheer a heart. If we are confused and do not know what to do in any given circumstance, the Word of God tells us all we need to do is but ask for wisdom and it will be given to us, with no conditions attached! The Word of God tells us about the wonder of prayer and how precious it is. Imagine having a one to one conversation with the most high God! This is every true believer’s privilege. 

The Word of God tells us about Himself, about His precious beloved Son, and the reason why He came.

Which leads me to speak about this precious One who is the delight of His Father’s heart.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 
and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
John 1: 1, 14.

All that we have is because God said so! We have the privilege of owning a copy of what God has said for ourselves! But the ultimate of gifts is Himself in the Person of His Son!

Jesus Christ is the essence, the expression, the character, and the fullness of God in a body.

Jesus Christ is the final Word of God to the human race. And those of us who have come to trust Him know how precious He is. He is our trusty, faithful, altogether lovely companion who is with us every moment of every day.

As we open the pages of our Bible we are encountering God, and the more we learn from what we read, the more we learn of Him. Whoever reads the Bible and finds it to be a boring Book has never encountered God the way He wants to be discovered. And if that is the case perhaps you have not yet realised what you need, and haven’t yet discovered the God that the Bible talks about. Keep on reading with a sincere and searching heart and you will discover your need and how sufficient He is to meet your need.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29: 13.

I was watching a documentary about the Bible a while ago and there were many people who had something interesting to say about different aspects of it; how and when it was written, how it was compiled, how it has been preserved, how it was translated, and how it has affected those who are devoted to it, and much more. One particular participant said something lovely as the documentary closed and I thought I would leave you with this quote because of its endearing and yet challenging content.

“I love the way Psalm 119 unfolds. It is the longest chapter in the Bible and it is all about the Word. And you see there what the Word produces. It produces delight. It produces desire for God. It produces obedience. So sometimes it is helpful to look at a text like Psalm 119 and ask: “What does it look like and what does it feel like? What is the experience of the heart and of the soul that has been captivated by the Word?” You can see that they have seen the Word, they are storing up the Word, they are treasuring God’s Word. They have the greatest sense of delight in it. They are pained when people don’t follow it. It is their greatest longing to obey it. They see God’s character and smile in it. That’s what we want. That’s why having the right view of Scripture matters because without it we are not only going to come to not only wrong conclusions about God, and the Gospels and ourselves, but we won’t think rightly, and we won’t feel rightly. We won’t be the sort of human beings that God made us to be if we don’t take Him at His Word, and understand all that He means for us to know of Himself.”  - Kevin DeYoung

The Bible

This Book contains the mind of God, the condition of man, the way of salvation,
the judgement of sinners and the happiness of believers.

Its teachings are Holy; its laws are binding,
its histories are true and its decisions are unchangeable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveller's map, the pilot's compass,
the soldier's sword and the Christian's charter.

Here paradise is restored, Heaven opened and the gates of Hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject; our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

Read it slowly, often, prayerfully.
It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It will reward the greatest of labour
and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

It is the Book of books, God's Book.
It is this way God makes Himself known to man.

E. MacLelland

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 2022

2022 could be the very year in which Jesus will come to take His people to His Father’s house as He promised He would in John 14: 1-3.

May you be truly blessed this coming year as one day at a time you move forward. The best way to live with the quiet assurance that all is well with your soul is to trust with all your heart in the precious Son of God who came to save sinners from their sin.

The promise of His continual companionship goes with those who belong to Him by faith, and that could be you!

Now is the very best time to surrender to Him and trust in Him with all your heart, because our beloved Lord Jesus could very well come… Perhaps Today!

Related Link - Daily Light Calendar for devotional readings for both mornings and evenings based on the King James Version of the Bible

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Here's how to know for sure you can be ready for heaven.
It's as simple as 'ABC'

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