Feasting on God's Word (One Year Bible)

When I was living in Glasgow, at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, I met a lady who lived in three different centuries! She was a born a few months before the end of the nineteenth century. She died a few months into the twenty-first century. When someone achieves their century of years, it is a time for giving thanks to God. We look back over our life and we say, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life’. It is not only a time for looking back. It is also a time for looking forward – ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever’ (Psalm 23:6). We look back, giving thanks to God for many precious and treasured memories. We look forward to something even better – ‘we will be with the Lord for ever’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:20 When we gather together to hear the preaching of Your Word, show us, Lord, that we need more than the “words” of the preacher. Show us that we need “the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Help us, when we hear Your Word, to know that it is more than “the word of men” – it is “the Word of God, which is at work in us believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4:12 Lord, we need both “love” and “holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). Our love is to be holy. Our holiness is to be loving. Where do we learn to be loving? Where do we learn to be holy? We learn from Jesus, our Saviour – Jesus, Your Son. Jesus says, “I don’t condemn you” – This is love. He also says, “Go and sin no more” – This is holiness (John 8:3-11). Help us to be more like Jesus – in love and in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28 Lord, there are times when we feel like giving up. You never give up on us: “He who calls you is utterly faithful and He w...

The word of judgment is not an easy word to speak, yet it must be spoken in every generation. It was spoken by the Old Testament prophets ( Jeremiah 25:15 ). It was spoken by the New Testament apostles ( 1 Thessalonians 5:9 ). The wrath of God is part of the message which is to be proclaimed by those who are faithful to God. When God speaks of His wrath, He “rebukes the arrogant who are cursed” ( Psalm 119:21 ). There are those who “stray from God’s commands” ( Psalm 119:21 ), but we must commit ourselves to Him - “I will obey Your Word ... Your servant will meditate on Your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors” ( Psalm 119:17 , 23-24 ).

How are our lives to be changed? They can be changed by God - “I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord” ( Jeremiah 24:7 ). Knowing God makes a difference. Those who do know not Him live “in passionate lust” ( 1 Thessalonians 4:5 ). Those who do know Him “live in order to please God” ( 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ). We must not be like “the sluggard ... the man who lacks judgment” (proverbs 24:30). We must apply our hearts to learning the lessons God is teaching us, lessons which will provoke us to greater spiritual alertness and increased spiritual blessing ( Proverbs 24:32-33 ).

“O land, land, land, hear the Word of the Lord” ( Jeremiah 22:29 ). When we truly hear the Word of the Lord with attentive hearts, there will be an “increase and overflow” of “love” and a strengthening of holiness ( 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 ). This is the teaching of Psalm 119:9 - “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word.” This is why we hear the Word of the Lord - so that we might learn to do the will of the Lord: “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You” ( Psalm 119:11 ).

“The Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail” ( Jeremiah 20:11 ). This is a tremendous Word of encouragement when the battle is at its fiercest. In this battle, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit ( 1 Thessalonians 1:5 ), empowered to speak for the Lord and to live for Him. He gives us the strength to battle for the glory of God, “not trying to please men but God ... not looking for praise from men” ( 1 Thessalonians 1:4 , 6 ). This is the way of blessing - the way of doing what God wants us to do - “blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord” ( Psalm 119:1 ).