God's Word Is Crucial for the Christian

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

It's hard, if not impossible, to live a Christian life without knowing God's Word. How can we obey Him if we don't know what He expects of us? We can't please Him unless we do. Hearing it read from the pulpit is good, but it's not enough. We need to spend time each day in Bible study. Even with busy lives, we make time for the things that are important to us, and even ten or fifteen minutes done daily will make a difference.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).

Knowing God's Word is how we avoid succumbing to temptation and defeat Satan. That's what Jesus did when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. He quoted Scripture to defeat the enemy. When listing the whole armor of God, Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God in order to resist the devil. Our main offensive weapon is the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. 

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him (1 John 3:6).

God's Word is also one of the important ways we get to know God. Along with prayer, it helps us form a close, personal relationship with our Lord. Nothing else is more satisfying, and it's how we find true joy, the kind that doesn't depend on our circumstances. When your faith gets to this level, God's presence will become your most precious treasure.

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