Hearts Set on the Word

We’ve begun to set our hearts in God’s Word for the year, and it is fitting to start in Matthew.

The New Testament often comments on the Old Testament, explaining how God fulfilled his promises for the Messiah. Books such as Matthew, Romans, and Hebrews contain prophecies from the Old Testament that the Son of God came to accomplish.

The Old Testament speaks of Christ’s coming, and the New Testament reveals how it happened. We are entering 2025, the Year of the Lord.

The Move of the Father

As we see the move of our beloved Father in the Old and the New Covenant, we live in hope of His second coming with faithfulness and pure hope. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

A sincere desire to know God and Him intimately can help me approach Scripture prayerfully. Those who search Scripture for fanciful meaning will never discover the hidden truth to be revealed to the faithful Reader. The Word’s plain meaning is revealed to those who trust the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

God intended for us to understand Scripture and gain wisdom and understanding. But we are mere creatures with finite minds, so He must show us treasured measures of truth—only as much as we can handle for a day.

Approach Scripture

As we approach God’s word reverently daily, God’s word will open your eyes to see, ears to hear, and mind receptive. The heart that opens itself to the living word will always fit perfectly in the Master’s hands.

Indeed, we do not speak Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek as the first readers read the original manuscripts. But this does not hinder us as true-seeking believers. You see, the same Holy Spirit who led the Scripture writers to write is present as you read God’s Word.

The Spirit will lead the Spirit-led believer.

The Holy Bible is holy (set apart for God’s will), and a message from God Himself proclaims salvation to the entire human race. He who is faithful to show the way to salvation is faithful to transform, inform, and conform you to the word — His revealed will.

He who keeps His Word keeps you.

Breathe the Breath of God

The Word outlines the wisdom, way, and will of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and still lives in us.

As we read it, we breathe the breath of God!

For the past two thousand twenty-five years, believing scholars have gone before the Lord to uncover the knowledge and reveal blessings to the Church by preaching and teaching God’s Word. Yet, sadly, skeptics have sown unbelief and confusion.

We can trust the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to continue in our generation to minister to us in the Word of Life. We are His faithful and true believers seeking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

The Burning Heart

When Christ was raised from the dead, He revealed Himself to many, and they believed. We are blessed with a narrative in God’s Word (in Luke) about two believers on their way, Emmaus. I suppose they had given up on finding Christ — thinking that Jesus was dead and gone.

Jesus cared about their hearts and came to them. He walked with them, not changing their destination. He just walked and talked to them. They didn’t know it was Him, but as they walked, the Lord revealed to them in Scripture how the Old Testament declared this would happen.

When they arrived in Emmaus, they invited him in to eat. In their home, Jesus revealed Himself and left them. They returned to Jerusalem and were one of those in the upper room on Pentecost. On the road to Emmaus, as Jesus opened Scripture to them, their hearts burned within them, and the Holy Spirit does the same for us today.

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us on the road, while He opened us the Scripture.” Luke 24:32 CSB.

Make it your heart’s intent to know Him. Set your burning heart on the illuminated word of God this year, and watch what happens.

Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life… My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Prov 4: 10-13 & 20-23.