A Knower of God’s Word

By Michael Beck

“…Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?” (Micah 2:7)

The Word of God is spectacular in its riches. Only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are filled more and more with its treasures. Many lay claim to knowing the Book, but absent a heart that wants to be led into all truth, they have barely scratched the surface.

The most religious people in Christ’s day prided themselves on their biblical knowledge; but the Lord saw them differently than they saw themselves. The word was in their head and lips, but not in their heart. “And ye have not his word abiding in you” (John 5:38).

When we are walking uprightly the word of God opens up to us in all its glory. “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart” (Ps. 97:11). The Spirit of truth opens our eyes to behold wondrous things out of God’s law (Ps. 119:18). To wisdom is added understanding, to understanding is added knowledge. The chambers of our heart are stocked full of “all precious and pleasant riches” (Prov. 24:4). Because we are walking worthy of the Lord unto “all pleasing” we are “increasing in the knowledge of God” and His Word (Col. 1:10).

The sad and tragic fact of many a believer’s life is they failed to realize the promise of their salvation because they were content with being a hearer, and not a doer, of the Word. Where the Word wanted to correct and reprove them they pulled away. They substituted sacrifice for obedience. They settled for shallowness. They fooled themselves that their knowledge and service to God could make up for their failure to take hold of the Word sent to them.

Our spiritual prosperity depends upon our reception of the custom-tailored instruction God would give to us. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).

God’s Word does us no good if we will not walk uprightly. In fact, it will be the very thing that condemns us in the day of judgment. But if we will live by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth, we will flourish as a well-watered garden. We will abound in the fruits of righteousness. We will not be “unskilful in the word of righteousness” (Heb. 5:13).

You cannot and will not know the Word simply because you want to. Make it your business to be a doer of the Word, and He will make it His business to make you a knower of His Word.

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