Even For Self!

I enjoy both listening to and playing music. Besides being a member of our community orchestra I recently had the opportunity to perform a couple pieces with a smaller musical ensemble and am presently working over music to be performed with a small chamber orchestra this coming Saturday. The music is wonderful, but it is also challenging and therefore besides the few group rehearsals, I must spend some individual time practicing. I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to play a variety of types of music, but I also enjoy once a concert is over with. After that music has been perform I then have the time to just pull out my instruments and relax playing for my own enjoyment; not playing because I am under the pressure of preparing for a concert, but playing just for the personal benefit to me.

My perspective is similar when it comes to THE SCRIPTURES. I love all the opportunities I have to preach and teach. I also enjoy having the opportunity to listen to others sharing lessons from THE WORD. Though I enjoy my study time, I still feel the pressure of deadlines and the challenge of having lessons prepared with a flow that will make sense and be beneficial to others. I also recognize the awesome responsibility of being sure what I am sharing is GOD’S MESSAGE and not merely my own. And though I need these lessons as much as those with whom I share them, I also cherish the time when I am able to study not with lesson preparation in mind, but merely to fill myself.

James exhorted…
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE IMPLANTED WORD, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.” ( James 1:21 ESV)

The roots of GOD’S WORD need to grow deep within our life. As we study THE SCRIPTURES we need to be willing to take it within so that it can infiltrate and powerfully influence our whole life. Sharing the TRUTH OF GOD with others is what we have been called to do. However, we need to spend time filling ourselves as well. For me, working with music as a group is always enjoyable and teaching and studying with a group is always rewarding. Nevertheless I also feel the deep need for time spent being personally nourished by THE WORD.

If we only sufficed ourselves with the lessons taught publicly there could end up being many truths we would never come to grips with for our life. Reading through THE WORD regularly is the way to make certain we have not missed something and provides the opportunity to go a little deeper in a personal way. It is also the means of making sure whether or not what we are being taught is true. (note Acts 17:11) May we maintain a craving for that which will thoroughly nourish our souls and help us grow up in our salvation. ( 1 Peter 2:2) For our own sake we must be sure to set aside the time to do so regularly. Getting personal about getting into THE WORD is the means of getting it into us!

Have a great day READING THE SCRIPTURES FOR THE SOUL’S SAKE!
Carl

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