BUILDING UPON THE WORD

The Father chose specifically to provide all we need for salvation and restoration IN Christ Jesus, His Son, (Eph 1:3-12). If we are established in Christ Jesus, we should also be built up in Him as we continue our walk of sanctification (Col 2:6-7), ‘For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him (Jesus Christ) they are yes; therefore also by Him (Jesus Christ) is our Amen to the glory of God through us,’ (2 Cor 1:20). A first-love-relationship with our Savior should always remain our first priority. Moreover, if we live every day with longing and expectation for Him to return, our conduct will be holy and we will direct our focus toward furthering the Kingdom of God.

Naturally, if we love Messiah with ALL our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength, our greatest desire will be to please Him in ALL we do. The apostle John captured this truth, admonishing us as follows, ‘And by this, we know that we have come to know Him (Jesus Christ), if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked,’ (1 John 2:3-6). [Insertions added to Scriptures by the author.]

If we love Jesus Christ, we will allow His Word to change us (Eph 5:25-27; James 1:22-25); for indeed, HE IS THE WORD, (John 1:1-4; 1 John 1:1-4). We do not need, in particular, to be theologians or learned men and woman to comply with this basic principle! Yet, we can by no means adhere to this important principle if we do not KNOW the Word of God, and we can only know the Word by reading it regularly and studying it in context of its full coverage. [This statement should by no means minimize the importance of sound Bible teachers given to the Body to edify our faith as described in Ephesians 4:11-14.] 

An increase in Christian literature, and the ever-increasing volume of video coverage of a wide range of teachings on a variety of doctrines on YouTube, etc. affect our relationship with the Word of God tremendously, and in many, many ways, to our own detriment. Believers are spending less and less time reading the Word from cover to cover, and even less time in studying it! Not only do literature and media consume our precious TIME, but it also makes us sluggish in reading and studying the Word, (Heb 6:11-12).

A simplicity of devotion to Messiah also requires simplicity of devotion to His Word! Moreover, it becomes more and more difficult to MEASURE what is presented in the literature, or in videos online, if the sum total of our knowledge rests on “second hand” knowledge.

Jesus Christ declared, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and who believes in Me shall never thirst,’ (John 6:35). He made this profound statement in the context of Israel receiving daily Manna from heaven in the wilderness. Let’s consider the typology of “manna.” Israel was commanded to gather a daily portion of “living bread,” enough to feed them for that specific day – sufficient to satisfy the very need for THAT DAY. In fact, what was left over, rotted. Even so, our Messiah knows our needs for today (Eph 5:25-27), and He will provide the portion of His Word in order for us to deal with every situation, for ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE ARE HIDDEN IN HIM, (Col 2:2-3).

Let us not compromise our time in the Word. Let us seek fellowship with our First Love, Messiah, EVERY DAY. Let us read and study His Word, and allow Him to teach us, cleanse us, establish us, and to fulfill our very specific needs for every day.