A Hunger For The Word

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. - John 20:31

Most of us are familiar with the comic strip Peanuts. In one of my favorite episodes, Lucy and Linus are staring out the window, and they are watching this humongous thunderstorm pass through. The rain is just coming down in sheets. Trembling in fear, Lucy looks at Linus and says, “Boy! Look at it rain! What if it floods the whole world?”

Linus calmly replied, “Lucy, it will never do that, because in the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again, and the sign of that promise is the rainbow.” A big smile comes across Lucy’s face, and she turns back toward the window and says, “Linus you’ve taken a great load off of my mind.” Linus said, “Sound theology has a way of doing that.”

I don’t believe there has ever been a time that the church needs to hear more sound theology than today. There is not a more important doctrine to discuss than what the entire Bible is all about. One of the disciples named John wrote a gospel and even said he wrote the gospel for this reason, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

But if we don’t dive into God’s Word, if we don’t take the time to read what it says and see to understand it and learn from it, then we’re missing out…big time. There is so much peace and comfort that we can experience, even in the midst of our greatest trials and struggles, if we take to heart the words of Scripture. God uses His Word in powerful ways in the lives of His followers, but we must first be diligent in reading His Word regularly if we want to experience that power, peace, and comfort.

Do you make it a daily practice to study God’s Word? If not, I pray that today you would begin to do so. Ask the Lord to give you a hunger for His Word and His truth, and watch Him transform your heart, mind, and soul as you read and meditate on Scripture each day.

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your Word. I know there is so much in Scripture that you want to show me and teach me. I pray that you would give me an ever-present hunger to read Your Word and meditate on it each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.