January 5, 2023 – the Twelfth day of Christmas —“Studying the Teachings of the Lord”

“So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you.You have seen for yourselves what the Lord did with regard to the Baal of Peor—how the Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, while those of you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. See, just as the Lord my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” Deuteronomy 4:1-6

I go through ups and downs in how I study the Bible. Sometimes I participate in a group Bible Study, and other times, I study with some pastor friends of mine, or by myself. And yes, there are times I don’t study at all. And over the 17 years that I have been a pastor I have learned that there is no “right” way to study the bible.

During the beginning of every year, many people will make a list of goals for the upcoming year. Being a list-maker by nature, I try to set goals I can accomplish by listing them out – so that I get the occasional good feeling that I have finished something.

Take time in the beginning of 2023 to set some goals for your spiritual enrichment. Look for opportunities around you to increase your daily time with G-d’s Word. Don’t let another year go by without setting some goals for your spiritual health.

Let us pray: Lord, there is so much to learn in and from the bible. Help me to keep to my commitment to read your word daily. Amen.

Pastor Dave