Are You Governed By God’s Word?

Do we have lives that are governed by God’s Word? Or are our lives being mastered by the culture around us? Are we being transformed by the renewing of our minds? Or are we being conformed into the ways of a confused world?

Something is molding and shaping us. And it is either the truth found in God’s Word or the sinful world around us. There is no middle way.

The Psalmist writes:

Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
(Psalm 119:36-37)

The Psalmist knew of his need of the Word of God. It was God’s Word that brought blessing (119:1), purity (119:9), delight (119:24), comfort (119:50), wisdom (119:98); direction (119:105), life (119:144), and deliverance (119:153).

And yet although he knew of his dependency on God’s Word, he also understood that his heart was at times prone to wander towards “worthless things.” Therefore, he prayed that God would “turn his eyes” and “incline his heart” to that which was true and eternal.

The Psalmist did not want the pursuit of empty pleasures to obscure the ultimate treasure found in the understanding and obedience to God’s Word. He wanted to remain under the influence of the Word of God.

With so many messages coming our way through media and advertising, it is vital that we place God’s Word in front of us each day. We need to develop a plan to hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate upon God’s Word.

Why? Jerry Bridges says it best in his book The Discipline of Grace:

One thing we can be sure of: If we do not actively seek to come under the influence of God’s Word, we will come under the influence of sinful society around us. The impact of our culture with its heavy emphasis on materialism, living for one’s self, and instant gratification is simply too strong and pervasive for us not to be influenced by it.

Once again, there is no such thing as a neutral stance on the continuum of influence. We are being drawn more and more under the transforming influence of Scripture, or we are being progressively drawn into the web of an ungodly society around us. 

Discipline yourself therefore, by God’s grace, to daily expose yourself to God’s Word. Read of His mercy! Read of His holiness! Read of His love for you found in your salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ!

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good (1Peter 2:2-3).