1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. 22 Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 41 May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 135 Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees. 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. 151 Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true. 152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever. 160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. 164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. 166 I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands. (Ps. 119) Our beliefs do not automatically translate into So, how do beliefs turn into virtues and character? It requires the spiritual discipline of prayer and Bible studies. So, how do we use the Bible as a spiritual discipline for building a character which confirms what we believe? There are three important principles which we need to accept and practice in our lives: We Need to Recognize the Authority of the Bible. We Need to Access the Power of the Bible. We Need to Discover the Secret of the Bible 1. We Need To Recognize the Authority of The Bible Where does the beauty of the Bible come from? It Comes from it's natural authority. Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord." This statement is applicable: for all ages and times, for all places and people and all of its parts are important What is significant about the word ‘law’? It is written in your law. (John 10:34) -Jesus Jesus than quotes Psalms (Ps. 82:6) Why is it called the law? Because all is normative, authoritative and binding (narrative, history, poetry, law). What is in it is not suggestion. Rather, it's relevant, authoritative and bidning. What is significant about the word ‘statutes’? It's permanent. It's for all time and places. Also, all its parts are authoritative > All your commands are true. (151)... All your words are true. (160) > > “Do you think that I have come to change/loosen the Law or the Prophets. No, I’m not going to loosen one jot or title.” (Matthew 5:17) > 2. We Need to Access the Power of the Bible Unless you accept that the Bible is fully truethe Word of God & unless you accept its beauty and gloryyou won’t be able to access the power of the Bible. Once you recognize it and accept it it will give you: Freedom Love for God Freedom “I will walk about in freedom for I have sought your precepts.” The more I give myself to God and His Word the more free I become. What kind of freedom? Cultural Freedom Once you submit yourself to the Word of God you unhook yourself from the trends and trappings of culture. Bible is timeless while culture is temporary. Spiritual Freedom “Direct my footsteps according to your Word; let no sin rule over me.” (133) If God's Word is not ruling over you something else will. Love For God We have to read the Bible as a story of which God is the main actor who draws us to Himself into intimate relationship with Him. “You search the Scripture because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 539) The Word of God becomes personalized in Jesus 3. We Need to Discover the Secret of the Bible “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” God expressed Himself in two ways: Written Word Embodied Word Written Word Gives us insights into His: thoughts, desires, plans, actions and will for us Embodied Word God's came in the form of flesh. Why? The ultimate intimacy and love can only be with a person. God displayed ultimate love for us when Jesus came to die for us and save us from our sin and save us for Himself. When you start loving the Written Wordyou start loving Embodied Word. When you startloving the Embodied Wordyou start loving the Written Word.