A Sharp Sword: The Importance of Scripture

For my missions trip to Thailand, one of the many books I brought with me was the Christian classic, Desiring God, by John Piper. One of the most striking chapters to me so far has been, "Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism". The thesis of the chapter is essentially this: being saturated with Scripture daily is essential for your joy as a Christian. However, this seemingly obvious truth is often buried by daily worries, distractions, business, and laziness, especially within my life.

What My Life is Like without Meditating on Scripture
Oftentimes, when I have become too lazy to properly read, meditate, and memorize scripture, my spiritual life suffers immensely. Depression sets in, sin abounds, and I get burnt out, sometimes even turning into a nasty person--not someone particularly pleasant to be around.

The Blessings of Scripture
On the other hand, when I fight for my joy in Christ by inundating myself with Scripture, the opposite happens. The Bible is very clear about the positive effects of scripture!

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel 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" Psalm 1:1-3 NASB

"How can young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You" Psalm 119: 9-11

"and take the Helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" Ephesians 6:17

 As I meditate and read the scripture, my joy increases! I see what I truly have in Christ and the worldly things melt away in the mirror of the Word. It keeps me from sin, by constantly giving me wisdom, rebuking me, and encouraging me. It also is a powerful weapon against Satan, able to cut down the lies and falsehoods he daily throws through culture and thoughts.


This is incomplete and I feel like there's a lot more I can write on this subject (and there has been) but it's late and I should sleep soon! Just a tiny glimpse of what I've been learning in Thailand.  Maybe I'll add more to this when I get more time.


Chenglin