Christianity 101: Building a Firm FoundationSample

More About God’s Word...

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17 NKJV

In this age of information overload and artificial intelligence, it is difficult to know what is truth. However, God’s Word—the Bible—is our sure foundation.

The Bible is the world’s largest treasure chest. In our short lifetimes, we will never be able to scratch the surface of its gems. Within its covers, we find the solution to every human condition. We will read the Scriptures countless times, and every time it will speak to us in a fresh and different way.

If God’s Word is new to you, be encouraged to read the New Testament straight through before heading to the Old Testament. It will be easier to see how the two sections intimately relate to each other. Become familiar with what it means to follow Jesus by looking at His life and the early church by using a modern Bible translation such as the New Living Translation NLT, New King James Version NKJV, and English Standard Version ESV, to name a few.

Read God’s Word devotionally. Even just one verse may be what He is communicating specifically for you in that moment. As you read, are certain verses resonating in your heart? What is Jesus saying directly into your current situation? Is there a promise He wants you to receive? Hearing God’s voice in this way is what Jesus meant when He stated:

…It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’
Luke 4:4

Just as when we miss a physical meal and become weak, confused, and weary, skipping a meal of God’s Word speaking directly into our lives can have the same consequences for us spiritually.

Also, make time to study God’s Word. As you hunger to go deeper, take a look at the multi-faceted definitions of the original languages. Bible studies and plans can enhance your study, especially with others, for hearing their perspectives. Study Bibles offer excellent notes and references, and the commentaries of Biblical scholars are also very insightful.

However, don’t let reading God’s Word become a chore or a source of guilt, especially if you miss digging into it for a while. Simply come and partake of its bountiful feast as soon as possible, even if it’s only for a few moments. It will quickly become one of the sweetest treasures on your life’s journey!

• Psalm 119:9-16 uses various words for God’s Word (i.e., commandments, statutes, law, testimonies). Ponder what the various aspects of His Word here mean to you.
• What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you from Psalm 107:20?
• What touches your heart regarding God’s Word in Luke 4:1-13 about combatting the devil and temptation?
• How are you encouraged by Romans 10:17?
• What powerful truth do you learn from Luke 21:33?