Studying the Bible Keeps Us Spiritually Strong

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:9-24

Focus Verse: Psalm 119:9 "How can young people keep their lives pure?
    By obeying your commands."

God has given us an instruction manual for life.  It is called the Bible.  As Christians in this world we cannot overcome the enemy in our own strength.  "How can a man cleanse his ways?"  Not on his own.  On our own, we would struggle and fail.  We need help, and that help is available to us through the Bible.  Our focus verse ask a question.  How can we stay pure?  Verse 11 gives us the answer, by hiding God's Word in our hearts.  I wish I had memorized more scripture when I was young, because it is harder to do now that I am older.  In verse 24 he calls God's "testimonies" his counselor.  God will always show us and teach us as we read the Bible.

The study and application of God's Word will keep us from sin, even though we live in a sinful world.  When Jesus was tempted by the devil in Luke 4 we see Jesus quoting scripture with every temptation.  If you are a Christian and you don't have peace and joy in your life, you might have unrepentant sin and/or there may be a lack of Bible study and scripture memorization in your life. 

Some people view God's laws as a list of "DON'Ts", but these are really a shelter to protect us.  God gives us plenty of things we should "DO".   Take some time today to evaluate your spiritual strength.  Make a plan to increase the strength through God's Holy Word.


"Either God's Word will keep us from sin, or sin will keep us from God's word." ~Unknown

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Wonderful Counselor

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 139

Focus Verse:  "For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

Jesus, the Son of God, has been given many different names in the Bible.  Wonderful Counselor is a name that should give us great comfort as we go through this challenging life.  Wonderful means "outside the realm of human explanation."  Psalm 139:6 says, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain it."  It describes something miraculous.  Our sense of wonder should go beyond all human explanation.  The prophet Isaiah declared that the coming Christ would be a wonder.

Long before the Son of God was given, Isaiah foretold that God was planning to send a Counselor for the brokenhearted people of the world.  The Bible is full of counsel that has been given to us to be able to live this life.  Even at 12 years old, Jesus astounded Jewish rabbis with His wisdom (Luke 2:46-47).  In His public life people were amazed at His wise counsel.  In Colossians 2:3 Paul says, "In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Are we as astonished at the wonder of the Counselor as Isaiah was?  Are you amazed by His wise counsel?  Where else can we get the assurance of acceptance and forgiveness of sins and comfort of God?  Wonderful Counselor is our Creator and Savior.  How thankful we should be that our Wonderful Counselor is also rightly named our Mighty God.  Allow Him to counsel you each day.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries