It has been said,
“The primary purpose of reading the Bible is not to know the Bible, but to know God.”
Our motivation for studying God’s word is something all of us must constantly be considering. I must admit, there have been times when I have read the bible to just get information or to just check the box on my daily Bible-ready chart. As a result, it prevented me from appreciating who God is and from appreciating the benefit of living my life according to His word. Our motivation and purpose for reading the bible make a difference in whether we store the words of God up in our hearts and let those words guide our lives on this earth.
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you”…Psalm 119:11
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” …Psalm 119:105
If our purpose in studying the word of God is to come to a better understanding of who God is and all that He has done, then we also will come to understand that if we keep His commands, we will be blessed. We’ll find peace and contentment regardless of our circumstances and we’ll live with an assurance that God will be with us wherever we go. We can learn from several passages in Psalm 119 that as we grow in our knowledge and love for God, we will also grow to love God’s law and commands.
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day”...Psalm 119:97
“Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love”…Psalm 119:159
“I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law”…Psalm 119:163
Growing in our trust, our knowledge, and our love for the God who has first loved us, should lead us to not only trust His commands but to love His commands. It should lead us to meditate and carefully consider those commands. It should lead us to obey those commands and to hate what is false and contrary to God’s law.
A good example of this is found in the life of Joseph. In Genesis 39, when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him to “lie with her” he thought of his master and the trust that Potiphar had placed in him, but even more than that, He thought of His God.
“…How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” …Genesis 39:9b
Joseph had come to love and trust God so much, that He wanted to please Him more than he wanted to please himself.
As we come to know God at a deeper level and grow to love Him and trust Him, we will also grow to trust that His commands are always best for us, and we will develop a desire to please Him above ourselves.
To God Be the Glory! Excel Still More
Billy Clabaugh
Billy, his wife Shayla, and their son Caleb live in Sayre, Oklahoma where he has been blessed to preach since 2012. He has a bachelor’s degree in Math Education from Oklahoma Christian University and a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Eastern New Mexico University. He enjoys reading, watching the Oklahoma Sooners, spending time with his family, and serving in the Kingdom of God. Billy also serves on the board of directors for Excel Still More and is a regular speaker and writer for the workshop and other publications.
