The smell of coffee and bacon lingers in the air, the soft sound of paper turning as I round the corner. My Grandparents were sitting at their kitchen table reading their Bibles. The table where they sat transformed into the foot of the throne of God, their kitchen into the very throne room of heaven. They sat together in the presence of God, reading His Word. This is the image that has been burned into my memory. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. This was not a one-time occurrence. This was a common scene at their house.
Reading God’s Word and spending time in His presence marked their lives. They radiated the glory of God throughout their day. They brought the power of the Kingdom with them as they ran errands. Their words dripped with biblical wisdom. They embodied Ezra 7:10. The impact of those holy mornings continues in my life. I was changed because they studied, lived, and taught God’s Word. Every life I impact echoes their faith displayed in those holy moments.
Their lives were not marked by perfection but by persistence in God’s Word. They founded their lives on the model laid out in the book of Ezra. Let us take a minute to consider the weight and importance of reading God’s Word and spending time with Him. Let us consider the impact that our lives can have if they are ordered correctly. Will we have perfect lives? No. But they will be lives marked by the presence of God and persistence in faith.
Study the Word
Ezra was introduced as a skilled scribe. He dedicated time to reading and interpreting God's Word. God’s Word was a way of life for Ezra. In Ezra 7:10, we see that he had devoted his life to the study of Scripture. He intentionally set up his life around spending time with God.
My grandparents didn’t accidentally read the Bible. It was a mindset. They devoted themselves to reading and studying. You will not stumble your way into reading God’s Word daily. You won’t find those holy moments if you are not looking for them. As we consider the implications of Ezra 7:10, we must first be devoted. So, daily, set your mind to the task of meeting with the Father.
I use the word ‘meeting’ because reading the Bible is much more than simple study. This may come as a shock, but we don’t read the Bible only to learn facts and helpful thoughts. It is much more than that.
When we crack open our Bibles and dig into the text, we are transported into the very presence of the Father. How would it impact your desire and devotion to read if you thought about it like meeting with a deeply loved Father over just reading a book?
So devote yourself to studying God’s word, but do so with a holy anticipation of meeting with the Father. Read it like you would a love letter. In my sermon on this chapter, I referenced reading a letter from my wife while we were apart. I read and reread that letter because I loved the one who sent it. How much more should we desire to read God’s love letter to us? Even greater is the reality that as we read, we meet.
Live the Word
My Grandparents’ lives were marked by their obedience to what they read. They lived out what they learned. They ordered their lives around what they learned from God. The same was true of Ezra. As the writer described him, he set out to study God’s Word and to do it.
Ezra understood that God’s Word was something to read and apply. He did what he read. He ordered his life’s worship around what God said. My grandparents sought to live out the Bible. They did what they read.
This is why we must read with our heads, hearts, and hands. We need to understand God’s Word; we need to take it to heart, and we must put it into practice. What we read must make its way to our lives.
It does nothing to read and not practice. Jesus equated such a life to a man who built his house on the sand. Instead, build your life on the rock of Christ through hearing and doing His Word.
Teach the Word
Ezra devoted his life to teaching the Word. His teaching was an overflow of his study and obedience. This is the proper order of teaching. If you don’t obey the word, your teaching will be unfounded. It is like building a house without a foundation. Ezra was tasked with reorienting the people’s hearts to true worship of God. Such a job must be done on a foundation that studies God’s Word and obeys it first. Teaching flowed from Ezra’s life.
My Grandfather preached in churches and taught at the nursing home for years. He taught the Word. Teaching was natural because his life was ordered properly. He studied and obeyed God’s Word. This is the model we see throughout Scripture. How often are we tempted to skip the step of obedience? Beloved, remember, you are doing far more than teaching facts. Your teaching introduces people to the very presence of God.
We are all called to teach. This doesn’t have to look like a pastor or Sunday School teacher. It can look like meeting someone over a meal and sharing what you have gleaned from your time with God. Teaching that we are all called to do is discipleship. Every member of the body is called to disciple others. So Beloved, teach the Word as you disciple people in your life. Devote yourselves to such things. Let it be an overflow of your study and life. Then the fear of speaking God’s Words to others becomes natural.
Conclusion
We are all called to study, obey, and teach God’s Word to each other. God is building a people of worship. Therefore, every member must be devoted to reading God’s Word, living it out, and sharing it with others. In doing this, you will meet with your heavenly Father. You will also bring others into a life of holy moments in the presence of God. Open your Bible. Meet with your Father. Let the ordinary become holy. Let His Word shape your life, and through you, the lives of others.