Grasping God’s Word

A welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

The devotional for today, titled Grasping God's Word, was written by James Banks. A rugged, cast-iron ring stood strong against the harsh Minnesota winter as it hung on the doorframe of my great-uncle's old farmhouse. More than a hundred feet away was another ring firmly fixed to the dairy barn. When there was a blizzard, my uncle would attach a line between both rings so that he could find the path between the house and the barn.

Keeping a firm grip on the line kept him from losing his way in the blinding snow. My uncle's use of a safety line in a snowstorm reminds me of how the psalmist David used lines of Hebrew poetry to trace how God's wisdom guides us through life and guards us against sin and error. In Psalm 19, he declares, The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.

They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned, in keeping them there is great reward. A firm grasp of the truths of Scripture informed by God's Spirit working in our hearts keeps us from losing our way and helps us make decisions that honor God and others. The Bible warns us against wandering from God and shows us the way home. It tells us of the priceless love of our Savior and the blessings that await all who place their faith in Him. Scripture is a lifeline.

May God help us cling to it always. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is taken from Psalm 19, verses 7-14. The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned.

In keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins. May they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord my rock and my Redeemer.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for the rich, deep blessings of scripture. Help us to treasure You and Your teaching today. It is in Jesus' name that we pray, Amen. Thanks so much for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.