Apply the Word

I believe that one of the things that grieves God’s heart the most, is when we as Christians read and listen to His Word, but fail to apply it to our lives. We’ve all known believers who profess to be followers of Christ, but who hold grudges, have bitterness in their hearts, and are quick to find fault with others. They know full well that the Lord commands them to walk in forgiveness, but they have a mindset that says, “My situation is different,” thinking that they are somehow exempt from divine law. Their ungodly attitudes continually bear poisonous fruit that affects every area of their lives, and prevents them from fulfilling their God-given purpose and potential.

Scripture says: “My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20-22 AMP) The Bible is like medicine—you have to apply it in order to benefit from it. If your doctor prescribed medicine for you that had the ability to heal you and make you whole, would you put it on a shelf and forget about it? Not if you had any good sense, you wouldn’t. Yet many Christians do this very thing with the Word of God. Only by submitting to its timeless and powerful principles can we profit from them.

Proverbs 16:20 (NASB) says: “He who gives attention to the word shall find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” God’s commands and standards for living are always for our own protection and benefit. So when we choose to be in close relationship with ungodly people, or to listen to music or watch movies that offend God, we are pointedly ignoring His Word, and we will suffer for it. The Lord wants us to trust Him enough to believe that He always wants what is best for us, and that His laws are for our own good. Today, ask the Lord if there is any area of your life where you are failing to apply biblical principles, and are forfeiting His blessings.