Before You Go To The Word of God . . .

Psalm 119:27 - "Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders."

One of my best friends in ministry is Mark Brown. Mark is the Student Ministries Pastor at Trinity Church in Redlands, California. He was also a classmate of mine in college. We didn't really know each other in college, but after we graduated, and both got married, our honeymoon apartments were right next to each other. We lived next door to each other for about nine months. We maybe talked a grand total of five times in that nine month period.

Then, while I was serving as a youth pastor outside of Washington D. C. and he was serving as a camp director in central Virginia, our paths crossed again. We were in the same seminary class and he invited me to bring my students to the camp that he ran. I did. And, a lifelong friendship was forged.

My northern Virginia, Presbyterian students, loved Mark's Southern Baptist teaching. Every time Mark would teach he would begin the lesson with the words, "Before we go to the Word of God, we must first go to the God of the Word. Because, there is no way that we can comprehend what it is that God wants to teach us without His Holy Spirit guiding us."

I was reminded of that simple lesson as I thought about today's verse. David was asking God to help him understand God's precepts. He knew that he could never comprehend the depths of what God was trying to teach without God's help. David understood James' words long before they were written: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

When was the last time you asked for God's wisdom as you read His word? Maybe that is a natural thing for you. Maybe you do it every time. But, maybe, you've been trying to understand spiritual things with your natural mind. I talk with people regularly who tell me about how they are disenfranchised by their study of Scripture. Invariably they admit that they are just going through them motions and have not asked for God's help teach them as they read.

Invite Christ to be your guide as you walk through the pages of His word.

Dear God,

We need you to help us understand the mysteries that are wrapped up in your sacred word. Help us to not grow weary of time spent with You. Help us to keep you as our first priority and our first love.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.