An Invaluable Gift

0:00Here's today's In Touch Devotion. Today's scripture reading is Psalm 1 verses 1 through 3. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. 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. The value we place on something determines how we treat it. For instance, you probably wouldn't give much thought to carrying an old shoebox. Yet if someone placed $10,000 inside before handing you that same cardboard container, you'd likely work hard to protect it. Once we realize the worth of scripture,

1:00we no longer read merely out of obligation. Instead, we hunger for its revelation and life-changing power. Here's how to prioritize God's Word. Turn to it with expectation. Approach scripture eagerly, trusting that the Lord has something to reveal. Meditate on its meaning. Don't rush. Slow down and let God's truth seek deep into your thinking. Believe what the Lord says. Take him at his word, even when circumstances make it difficult. And apply the word to your life. Obedience is where scripture moves from the page into our daily experience, and sharing what we've learned strengthens both us and those around us. The Bible is living truth that can protect and guide, peers and encourage. When we handle the Word of God as the treasure it is, we will be increasingly conform to the image of Jesus.