If you heard Pastor John Piper's opening message from the True Woman '08 Conference, he introduced his message by saying that it was to lay the foundation for the True Woman Manifesto, which he described as being “faithful, clear, true, wise—indeed—a magnificent document.” Keep those words in mind as we spend time this month focusing on point three of the True Woman Manifesto.
Point three states that because of our desire and intent to be “true women” of God, we will:
“Be women of the Word, seeking to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to live in accord with sound doctrine in every area of our lives.”
What do you think it means to “be women of the Word”? It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? But what is the meaning behind this phrase?
In Acts 17:11 we read a description of the Bereans: “they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” I picture these dear people pulling out the synagogue scrolls of the Old Testament prophets to verify Paul's statements as he shares the good news about the long-awaited Messiah. They eagerly received the word; they wanted to know truth. They didn't want to miss anything God had for them.
Being “women of the Word” begins with a heart that receives God's Word with eagerness. Do you desire to hear what God wants to tell you? If you've lost interest in reading Scripture, or your devotional time seems dry and lifeless, perhaps it will help to remember Scripture's unique value.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to man in two ways. One is through the impressive beauty and intricacies of His creation (Psalm 19, Romans 1:19-20). The other is through this wonderful book we refer to as the Word of God. Do you know why we refer to it as the “Word of God”?
According to 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God (breathed out by God) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (NASB). When we read God's Word, we are reading God's personal communication to us! If you desire a greater respect and love for His Word, spend some time reflecting on Psalm 119:9-18, 24-48.
Do you have any other ideas of how you can grow in your eagerness to receive God’s Word? What’s your “eagerness level” for the Word of God on a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being very eager?
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