There is a direct correlation between our engagement with the Bible and whether we flourish as Christians. Psalm 1 teaches that a flourishing Christian life is rooted in God’s Word. Delighting in and meditating on Scripture is essential to spiritual health. Like a tree planted by streams of water, we must draw from the nourishing source of Scripture to remain fruitful and rooted in Christ. Neglecting God’s Word, on the other hand, leads to spiritual dryness and emptiness. God’s Word is not a luxury!
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1)
The source.
At the end of last year, my parents moved after almost forty years in the same home. In an attempt to keep alive some memories of their breath-taking garden, I cut many slips and planted them in my own garden. My favourites were unusual orange Cannas and purple Irises, which originally grew on a farm called “Grace” where I spent my childhood.
When I left to go on holiday in December, Joburg was experiencing a heat wave, with water restrictions and no sign of rain, so I worried that all the fragile little plants would die before they had a chance to get established in my own garden. To my delight, when I returned home from the holidays, I found that almost all the slips I’d planted in December had taken root and were flourishing. Some of the new saplings are even flowering now for the first time. Pure drenching rains achieved this miracle of life. Of course, only God is responsible for the rainfall. Did you know that God designed rainwater to contain nitrates, the most bio-available form of nitrogen? Nitrogen is one of the three key macro-nutrients that plants need to thrive and develop lush foliage. Because of nourishing rain, our gardens flourish.
Just as rain sustains a garden, the Bible is the source of a flourishing Christian life. It is God’s Word that nourishes, cleanses, and sanctifies us, ensuring we remain fruitful and vibrant in our faith. What a gift to have God’s Word as our infallible authority and source of truth! It will keep us fruitful and evergreen.
Rooted in God’s Word
Just as a tree draws nutrients from water, we must absorb Scripture continuously to grow spiritually. We must have God’s Word in our hearts, not just our minds. The Bible is God’s gift to us, a source of wisdom and life (Psalm 19:7-8), and it was the weapon Jesus used against temptation (Matt 4:4). The Bible is God’s stream to sanctify us in the truth and set us apart as His own (John 17:17). Without it, we are like chaff—fragile, aimless, and withered.
Jesus emphasised this in John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” We often miss the second part of Christ’s condition: His words must abide in us if we are to bear fruit. A lack of engagement with Scripture makes this impossible.
Unless Scripture is central to our day-to-day life, we cannot hope to live Christ-centred, God-glorifying, fruitful lives.
Meditating and Delighting in Scripture
Psalm 1 speaks of the blessed man’s delight in God’s law, as he meditates on it day and night.
Meditating on the Bible entails focussed thought and engagement—not just a quick scan of a verse or devotional, which often invites distraction rather than meditation. When we engage with Scripture thoughtfully, we encounter God Himself. It’s like drenching rain.
Meditation is the quiet classroom where the Holy Spirit counsels and convicts our hearts, leading to transformation. It’s the time of solitude where the distractions, worries and hurry of life fade, rooting us in God’s love. The more we delight in God’s Word, as opposed to seeing it as mere study or preparation for the next Bible study we plan to teach, the more we grow in knowledge and love for Him. Meditation is not merely a chore; it’s joyful engagement with the truth that changes our hearts.
A Slippery Slope
Psalm 1 presents two paths: the way of the righteous, who flourish, and the way of the wicked, who wither. If we neglect God’s Word, we gradually move away from the stream of life, allowing ourselves to be influenced by ungodly counsel. This process starts subtly, with walking in the counsel of the wicked, then standing in the way of sinners, and eventually sitting with scoffers. Without God’s Word, we become rootless, like chaff, tossed by every wind of opinion and feeling.
There are many sources of counsel out there—friends and family; the internet and social media; psychologists, therapists and podcasts; movies, TV and books. How many of us would say that our smartphone or Netflix subscription has made us a better, happier, more contented, wiser and healthier person? Whether we realise it or not, we are being profoundly shaped by our current information intake.
A Christian who neglects Bible reading will, over time, be led astray by distractions, sinful desires, and deceptive ideas. It’s not an overnight transformation but a gradual drift. Daily Scripture reading is a safeguard against this slippery slope.
The Power of four.
This was brought home to me by an intriguing study I read recently by Arnold Cole and Pamela Caudill Ovwigho, who questioned 8665 self-identified Christians in America. The document “Understanding the Bible Engagement Challenge: Scientific Evidence for the Power of 4” highlights the profound impact of regular Bible engagement on moral behaviour. The researchers found that those who read or listen to the Bible at least four times a week (the “power of four”) showed significantly lower levels of sinful behaviours like gambling, pornography, and extramarital sex. These individuals also reported less destructive thoughts, such as anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. Furthermore, they were 228% more likely to share their faith and disciple others, and 407% more likely to memorise Scripture.
The research also found that Scripture engagement is a more reliable predictor of moral behaviour than other measures of spirituality, such as church attendance and prayer. How often one reads and listens to the Bible seemed a particularly strong protective factor for teens.
The research also revealed a stark difference between those who read Scripture at least four times a week and those who engage with the Bible less frequently. Three times a week or less is not enough to make a difference. While many Christians own several Bibles, they often neglect them, citing busyness as the reason. But the evidence is clear: regular Bible engagement leads to tangible changes in behaviour and spiritual health.
As a counsellor, I’ve observed this “power of four” in counselling practice. The more diligently a client takes on board the weekly Bible homework I assign to them, the more positive their progress in overcoming struggles which have brought them to seek help. It’s amazing to watch someone who has been floundering begin to flourish, because the Bible offers wisdom, hope and healing in ways no human counsel can replicate.
Water is not a luxury.
For Christians, engaging in Scripture is not a luxury but a necessity. Just as we need water to survive, we need God’s Word to grow spiritually. If we want to live fruitful lives and honour God, we must prioritise Scripture. The new year is an ideal time to establish consistent Bible-reading habits. If you haven’t already, set aside time each day for God’s Word. Create daily habits and rhythms to make Scripture central to your everyday life. Whether through a Bible reading plan, commentary, or devotional, make sure you’re engaging deeply with Scripture. Set specific goals, such as memorising a verse each week, and allow Scripture to shape you, rather than trying to shape Scripture to meet your immediate needs.
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There are numerous resources available to help you dive deeper into Scripture. Here are some to consider:
- For the Love of God by D.A. Carson (Volumes 1 and 2, Robert Murray M’Cheyne reading plan)
- Strength for Today and Drawing Near by John MacArthur
- Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
- Daily Readings from All Four Gospels by J.C. Ryle
- Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Psalms by John Calvin
- Remade: Embracing Your Complete Identity in Christ by Paul Tautges
Whether in written or audio form, the Bible is a powerful tool. Let’s open it, value it, prioritize it, and allow it to transform us. As Job said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).
Prayer
Lord, thank you for drenching rain and pure streams of water that you provide to nourish the earth and make creation lush and fruitful. Make us conscious of our daily need for your Word to nourish our souls and grow us into fruitful Christians. By your Spirit, help us to be committed to a consistent Bible reading plan, and to meditate and delight in Scripture, so that we live out our faith and flourish this year. May we experience your grace which trains us in all the layers of real life, as we engage with Scripture in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Further useful resources:
Daily Program on Truth for Life app. (Alistair Begg)
Explore the Bible App. Published by The Good Book Company.
365 Days with Spurgeon. Volume 1.
George Whitfield – Daily Readings.
Come to the Waters. Daily Bible Devotions for Spiritual Refreshment. James Montgomery Boice.
