We 'Get in the Word' for these reasons and more!
This advice stuck with me.
This piece is AI-free. These words are my creation without the mechanics of non-human artificial intelligence.
Over twenty years ago, I was the worship pastor for the church my husband and I had attended since our children were babies. Give me a minute, if you will, because I cannot believe I just typed the words over twenty years ago.
It was one of those seasons with the fondest of memories. God was so good to allow me to serve His church, and I treasure those days.
A year or two into the job, I learned a lesson that marked my life. I have considered this repeatedly over the past two decades. What I learned came from the lead pastor I worked for. As we served together in the church office during the week and platform ministry on the weekend, often he would use the phrase, “Get in the Word…”
Occasionally, I would hear him say it when talking with church attendees or friends who stopped by the office to visit or ask for prayer. As they headed out the door, I would hear the pastor say…
Get in the Word to see what God is saying.
Get in the Word to find the answer.
Get in the Word to get in line with God’s plans.
What is it about this phrase that impacted me so?
When we say, “Get in the Word,” we mean the Bible—God’s holy word. The psalmist called it the law of the Lord (Psalm 1.2). Apostle Paul called it, “All Scripture […] breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3.16)
But why do we need to “get in the Word?” Why is this important today? How does it benefit us?
We “get in the Word” to live.
Seek the Lord and live… Amos 5.6
In this passage of Scripture, the prophet Amos pauses from delivering God’s words of judgment to Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations. After reciting sins of injustice, rebellion, and the people’s transgressions, Amos delivers this word of hope: “Seek the Lord and live…” The word of the Lord was life to the people in Old Testament days and still is for you and me. Not only is it the living word of God, but the gospel message found within its pages brings life to our souls—and we live again.
We “get in the Word” to grow.
For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature [believer]… Hebrews 5.13-14
When we first give our hearts to Jesus, we are like babies living on milk. The writer of Hebrews equates this to being unskilled in the word of righteousness. Throughout our spiritual journey, the goal is to mature as a Christian. This requires that we feed on the bread of life (the word of God), allowing it to nourish us so that we grow in the faith. We need the Word to grow into all God has planned for us to become.
We “get in the Word” for guidance.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Keep steady my steps according to your promise… Psalm 119.105; 133
This life requires decisions concerning our education, career choice, marriage and family, church attendance, friends, time, and activities, and the list never ends. What you view as the guiding truth in your life influences these decisions. We live in a culture that encourages you to seek your truth, but this is a subjective approach. When we choose God’s word for guidance, we can trust His truth to direct us toward the right path.
We “get in the Word” to learn how to fight our battles.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Eph 6.11
Not long ago, I added part of Ephesians 6 to my daily prayer guide. This portion of the Word that tells us how to fight our battles has become a source of encouragement I did not realize I needed. Living a life of faith does not exclude us from the unpleasant things of life. Friend, this is a fight we are in, and we must go to the Word to learn how to survive it. When we “get in the Word’” we learn the whole armor of God is at our disposal—that God may be glorified.
We “get in the Word” to succeed—for God’s glory.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1.8 (NLT)
As Moses’ successor, Joshua had big shoes to fill. The job consisted of leading more than 2 million people into a strange new land and conquering it.1 Though we will likely not be expected to take on such an assignment, the instructions still apply. We should study the Book, meditate on it, and be obedient. According to the Word, this leads us to prosper and succeed in all [we] do. Understand this success is contingent on following God’s commands, and it is all for His glory alone—not ours.
We “get in the Word” for the strength to endure.
This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119.50 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Psalm 119.114
Endurance is a key to surviving this life. As Christians, however, we see beyond simply surviving. We must learn to endure life’s difficulties not out of desperation but with the hope of becoming more like Christ. Are we being refined in the fire? Oh yes, friend, but in the process, we find strength and are made more into His image—Christlikeness. He has called you. He loves you. He promises to keep you to the end.
If you need it, receive this encouragement to “get in the Word” today!
The word of God has the power to rescue you, restore your life, teach you, help you grow, encourage you, guide you, protect you, help you be brave, give you success, minister to you in your time of need, give you strength for the battle, and keep you to the very end.
Another memory comes to my mind. In the church office, while eating lunch take-out, the pastor and I shared stories about our kids. He mentioned that, in working through a behavioral situation with one of his teenagers (he and his wife had three at the time), he strongly encouraged their teen to “get in the Word.”
Years passed, and I was raising teenagers of my own. The Lord would prompt me to remind my children about the importance of reading their Bible.
As I reflect today, I cannot help but ask, “What greater gift can we give to our children and grandchildren than to remind them (repeatedly, if necessary) to “get in the Word?”
On occasion, I remind myself of the same.
Chronological Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2004. Print.
Chuckled over your "taking a minute" to absorb the decades of ministry! I often ask myself, "How could we have attended this church for 25 years?" Then I look at the sons who were born and grew up in that church and do the math...