Verse of the Day

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” 

— Charles H. Spurgeon (commonly attributed)

Reflection

Many people travel thousands of miles to experience the beauty of South Florida. They come to see the Everglades, relax on our beaches, or drive through the Florida Keys. Yet for those of us who live here, it’s surprisingly easy to take those blessings for granted. We tell ourselves they’ll always be there, so we’ll go next weekend, next month, or next year. Before we know it, years have passed, and we’ve hardly taken advantage of what has been in our backyard all along.

Unfortunately, I think that’s how many of us approach God’s Word. How many of us have Bibles collecting dust on our nightstands, shelves, or offices? Are we consistent and determined to spend time with the Lord? I wish I could say this has never been a problem for me, but it has impacted me too. However, if we don’t take charge and grow in intentionality, we can easily put off this crucial discipline that is an essential part of our faith.

Today’s verse reminds us that the Bible is not just any book. It contains the truth the Lord desires to root deeply within us so that we may navigate the world according to His will. Joshua 1:8 paints the picture for us clearly: “but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it.”

God is not inviting us into a casual relationship with Him. He is inviting us into deeper intimacy through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6), to the point that His truth remains at the forefront of our thoughts day and night. There are many things that we do in excess, and if we’re honest with ourselves, perhaps the majority don’t redeem the time as we know we should (Ephesians 5:16-18). 

But I would be hard-pressed to imagine someone who spent too much time reading the Word of God. Even the most experienced believers have seasons where they may not properly prioritize the spiritual discipline of immersing themselves in the Word (Colossians 3:16).

Application

Charles Spurgeon provides our quote of the day and pulls our core theme back into focus. Even in the context of reading, we may sometimes find it tempting to stray from the Bible (Matthew 13:22). While it is prudent to read widely, we need to remember that our home base should always come back to the Word of God (1 Corinthians 3:18-23). It offers us a lens by which we can process everything else in a way that only those of us who have experienced it can relate.

In Amos 8:11-12, it reads:

11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it.

The generation in reference here longed to hear God’s voice, but struggled to find it. Imagine our situation today in contrast with theirs. Our culture is so out of touch and enjoys so much abundance in so many areas that we fail to appreciate what we have unparalleled access to.

We know in our hearts, especially those of us who count ourselves children of God, we sometimes take for granted the treasure we have right in front of us. How many of us have experienced the joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10), the refreshment of His presence (Acts 3:19-21), and the blessings of God’s incomprehensible peace (Philippians 4:7)? Yet somehow we allow our spiritual fuel tank to hit empty at times for no good reason.

None of us can afford to become too busy to spend quality time with God in His Word and in prayer (Acts 6:4). The Bible may be constantly available, but that doesn’t make it any less pivotal to our spiritual journey. If you can relate to this, like me, we must embrace our thirst for righteousness again. A thirst that only God can quench when we approach the Bible like a daily companion rather than an occasional manual to consult when we have a problem (Matthew 5:6).

I don’t know about you, but I feel compelled to live in the Bible more than ever. Netflix, YouTube, e-mails, social media, and everything else vying for our attention can wait. First, give the best of your time to the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24). None of those other things are inherently evil by default, but they must be the tools of a believer and not the objects of our affection. And we certainly cannot allow them to become the objects of our addiction (1 Corinthians 10:14).

May each of us come to realize that every moment we spend in the Word is not squandered. It’s one of the greatest eternal investments we can make and one of God’s means of sustaining our peace (Psalm 90:12). I hope we can all come to a place where we hold our Bibles with such high esteem that we don’t just read them like any other book. Next time you pick up the Word, think about how God is speaking to you as you finally refuel your spiritual fuel tank. We need to stop getting so dangerously close to empty before we do it (Jeremiah 31:25).

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for another day of life. Thank You for the gift of Your Word. Please help me to develop the discipline and faithfulness necessary to remain steadfast in my appreciation for Your Word. One of my desires is to show myself approved, and continue to operate in humility, acknowledging that I have a lot more to learn. 

Please help me never become complacent, but always remember that You have given me the privilege of having access to Your Word everywhere I go. 

Thank You for allowing me to access it in my home through one of several copies, or even on my smartphone when I am on the go. Please bless my brothers and sisters in Christ who took a few minutes out of their day to read today’s devotional. So many of us get trapped in life’s demands, and we don’t realize how little margin we’re operating on. It’s not until we find a few precious moments with You to rest in Your presence and find spiritual refreshment in Your Word that we realize the treasure we have sometimes neglected.

I acknowledge that I needed this warning as much, or more, than the majority of those reading this today. Please help me not to merely spend time in Your Word when I am preparing for a teaching, researching for a writing, or crafting a new podcast. Thank You for giving me the privilege of doing all of those things, but I also know I must make time to simplify my life and focus on Your Word without any other mission in mind.

May we all recognize the value of every minute we spend with You. Those of us who taste of Your goodness and the blessing of Your presence in our lives will undoubtedly discover the truth. That we will continue to pursue You in Your Word and through prayer, in such a way that we are driven to pursue You more every day.

Please help me not to submit this entry and forget about its relevance to me. Thank You for the opportunity to wake up to the reality that not a day is promised, and I desperately need to hear from You always.

I am eternally grateful to You for providing me with so much more than I deserve and extending Your grace upon me.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.