How To Increase Your View Of Scripture

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
I Thessalonians 2:13

While there are many key factors which greatly impact and direct our lives, our functional view of God’s Word is near the top of the list of importance and power. Adding to this, one of our biggest problems is that we often fail to realize just how much of our life is determined by our view of Scripture. How we esteem His Word often makes the difference between good fruit and bad fruit, and even life and death, figuratively and literally, both now and in eternity. [e.g., Ps 1:1-3; 19:7-11; Deut 30:11-20; Matt 4:4; Lk 6:46-49; 8:11-15; Jn 15:7-10; Rom 15:4]

Therefore, if you want to better understand your life—and improve your life, and the fruit in your life—then an accurate understanding and value of God’s Word will profoundly help you, and help you to help others.

Our View of Scripture: The value and reverence we give to God’s written Word as revealed not in what we say, but in our actual beliefs, attitude, actions, and fruit in our life
Defining Terms

Our view of God’s Word is not fixed. It can increase or decrease. Of course, God wants us to value His Word more and more. And not only will He give us all that we need to do so (e.g 2 Cor 9:8; 2 Pet 1:3ff; Ps 23; Phil 4:13, 19), He has provided many ways for us to increase our appreciation and love for Him and His Word. Therefore, if you want to improve your view of Scripture and its Author, seek to grow in the following, as you rely on Him.

MEDITATE on the profound realities that the Bible contains the actual Words of God (1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21), that these Words are from our all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and perfect Creator, and that they are graciously given to and specifically meant for you.

REMIND yourself that God is a person who wants a loving relationship with you; therefore, do not merely read or study the Bible. Spend time with God as you pray to Him, think about Him, and ponder His love. Read, delight in, and meditate on the countless truths He has given you to bless, strengthen, and draw you closer to Him. (Ps 1:2-3; Col 3:15-16; Jn 15:7-8; 2 Pet 1:3ff)

REFINE and improve your attitudes and beliefs about God’s Word, particularly by seeking to make Scripture more of a “get to” than a “have to.” (Ps 19:7-11; 119)

DWELL on and grow in appreciation for the truth that every Word in Scripture is from our all-loving God to show us exactly how much and in what specific ways He loves us, how He perfectly designed life to be lived, and how to know His love, to love Him, and to love others. (1 Jn 4:12-16; Mk 12:30-31; Eph 3:14-21; 1 Cor 13:1ff)

DISCIPLINE yourself to prioritize and spend more time in the Word, especially by delighting in the truths God has given you (and all of us), and by meditating on His Word day and night. (Ps 1:2-3)

RUMINATE on the truth that Scripture is not meant to restrict us or hinder our fun, but is there to always protect us, direct us, correct us, empower us, bless us, help us know God personally, and enable us to know His love, freedom, security, and salvation. (Deut 30:15-20; 32:47; 2 Tim 3:15-4:5)

WELCOME this time in Scripture as an ongoing privilege to displace faulty and harmful thinking—and any unwanted thoughts or strongholds in your heart—with the powerful truths and beautiful promises of God’s Word in your mind and inner being. (Lam 3:19-25; Phil 3:4-8; Col 3:1-4; Rom 8:1-5; 2 Cor 4:16-18; 10:3-5; Ps 1:1-3; 51:6)

SEEK to “let the Word of God dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16), and seek to have God’s Word deeply abide in your heart. (Jn 8:31ff; 15:7ff)

DETERMINE to see your time in God’s Word as your daily opportunity to detect and get rid of what is harming, hindering, and entangling your life (Heb 12:1-15)—and replace these things with what will free you and bless you, as well as bless God and others.

PURPOSE to not merely read, study, and learn from Scripture—but to read it in order to believe it. While reading God’s Word is wonderful, dedicate time to ponder, process, ruminate on, and truly believe what you are reading before moving on to the next verse.

GROW in grasping the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Tim 3:15ff; 2 Pet 1:3-4; Ps 18:30; 19:7-11) and pursue the abundant truths, promises, and blessings in His Word that directly apply to your life in tangible ways.

LOOK up the included references in the list at the end of this post for Biblical Examples Of A High View Of Scripture and meditate on the verses for a high view of Scripture.

DISCERN, avoid, and reject all of the erroneous sources which frequently mislead us (e.g., man’s wisdom; mysticism; subjectivity; feelings; cp Ps 1:1; Col 2:8), and the fine-sounding arguments which seek to justify depending on these faulty sources, and always lead to deception (e.g., “All truth is God’s truth;” cp Col 2:4).

RECOGNIZE the characteristics and schemes of the enemies of God’s Word (Gen 3:1ff; Matt 4:1ff; 7:13ff; 2 Cor 2:11; Gal 2:4-5; 5:9; Eph 4:14; Phil 3:18; Jude 4) and how they seek to cleverly diminish and distort His Word, and direct us to counterfeits (e.g., subjective sources; the world’s wisdom; Ps 1:1-3; Col 2:4, 8; 1 Tim 6:20-21).

MARK those who are adversarial toward God’s Word—especially those who give mere lip-service to a higher view, yet also oppose those with an actual high view (Gen 3:1). Avoid them and warn others about these individuals. (Matt 7:15-27; 15:1-9; Eph 5:6-11; 2 Tim 2:16ff)

CONSIDER prayerfully (Ps 139:23-22) those things that are hindering you from spending time with and truly delighting in God’s Word (cp Mk 4:15-20). What specifically are you giving more value to (e.g., cell phone, internet, social media, work, sports, people, entertainment), which is then distracting you from time with God and His Word (cp Lk 10:38-42)? What faulty thoughts or beliefs—and what possible sins or behaviors—are diminishing God’s Word in your heart and in your time with Him?

PRACTICE growing in gratitude, specifically by making a list of the many things in Scripture for which you are thankful (e.g., specific promises, truths, verses, actions by God), and dedicate time to giving thanks to Him for these blessings, as well as being grateful for all the other things in life. (Ps 9:1; Lam 3:21ff; Eph 5:20; Phil 4:4, 6-8; Col 1:12; 2:7; 3:15-17; 4:2; 1 Thess 5:16-18; Heb 12:28; 13:15; cp Rom 1:18-21)

One final note: the above list is not meant to be seen as: “If you are a good Christian, then you will do these things. And if you don’t do them, then you are a bad Christian.” Rather, think in terms of the heart and mindset of this: “I long to grow in my love for God and His Word, to truly know Him and His love on a deeper level—to live for Him—and to realize His promised blessings. Therefore, I am excited to take one thing at a time and apply them to my daily life.”

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF A HIGH VIEW OF SCRIPTURE:

Deuteronomy 32:46-47
Isaiah 66:2
Job 23:12
Psalms 1:1-3; 18:30; 19:7-11; 56:10-11; 119:16, 20, 24, 40, 96, 103, 127-128, 143, 161-165; 138:2
Jeremiah 15:16
Matthew 4:4; 13:23
Mark 13:31
Luke 11:28
John 6:63, 68; 8:31-32, 51, 55; 12:48-50; 14:15, 21, 23
Acts 17:11
Colossians 3:16
2 Timothy 3:15-4:5
Hebrews 4:12
James 1:22-26
1 Peter 1:3-4
1 John 2:14; 5:3