How would you describe your attitude and actions towards
the word of God? Is it a treasure and an absolute need to you? Or is it simply
one of the accessories of your Christian life that you sometimes put on and
then take off when you feel like it?
In Titus 1:9, the prospective elder is one who is
“holding fast the faithful word…”. As you contemplate the qualifications for
elders, these characteristics are, generally, the marks of one who is simply
mature in Christ and is striving to live in light of the glorious gospel. Of
course, not all are called to serve as elders in their local church. But all
are called to live growing, maturing lives for the glory of God and Christ.
This really is the only reasonable response to all that Christ as accomplished
for us and it is a thoroughly biblical directive (See Romans 12:1-2, Colossians
3:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:31).
In light of this, how are you doing in “holding fast the
faithful word”? One who is growing in this characteristic of Christ-likeness
will be marked by two distinct attitudes toward the word of God:
1. He will be one who delights in the word.
When you think about the Bible,
does Psalm 1:2-3 come to mind? “But his
delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly
planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf
does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Would you consider
yourself to be one who is delighting in the law of the Lord? Do you see it as a
treasure and blessing from our most holy and gracious God? Do you look forward
to when you can spend time in the word, reading and studying it? Do you look
forward to being taught the word through preaching and teaching? These
attitudes and similar ones will mark the one who delights in the word. A very
real aspect of “holding fast the faithful word” is to really enjoy the fact
that God has revealed Himself to us and desires to commune with us through His
word. Reading and learning the Bible really should be a delight to us.
2. He will be one who knows that he has to have
the word.
When we consider the greatness
and holiness of God and our devastating wickedness, the fact the God would
speak to us at all should inspire shock and awe. Indeed, the understanding of
our own depravity and God’s holiness is central to embracing the gospel in a
saving way. The fact that God reaches down to us and gifts us forgiveness and
eternal life is absolutely amazing and transforming. This attitude will show up
in the realization that we absolutely need
the word. If I’m going to live and walk in a manner worthy of the glorious
gospel, then I need instruction and
guidance. God has abundantly supplied that instruction and guidance through His
word.
Be encouraged to read through and meditate upon Psalm
119. As you do so, please note how the Psalmist balances the tension between delighting in and needing the word. Here are two examples:
·
Delighting ~ Psalm 119:14, “I have rejoiced in
the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”
·
Need ~ Psalm 119:50, “This is my comfort in my
affliction, that Your word has revived me.”
As we walk with Jesus, we need to always keep this
tension in mind. Let us be those who delight in what we desperately need!
Spurgeon describes what it means to hold fast this great word in this way, “It
is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to
talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of the
Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows
from you.”
So, how are you doing in this area? In the grace of God,
what are some ways that you could grow in your “holding fast the faithful
word”? Pursue this in light of the glory of Christ!
Sola Deo Gloria!
No comments:
Post a Comment