“Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord” (Ezek. 33:30).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16).
One must get at least half an hour daily when his mind is fresh. A tired mind does not readily absorb. This should be persisted in until there is a habitual spending of at least that much time daily over the Book, with a spirit at leisure from all else, so it can take in. Then the time should be given to the Book itself. If other books are consulted and read, as they will be, let that be after the reading of this Book. Let God talk to you direct, rather than through somebody else. Give Him first chance at your ears. This Book in the central place of your table, the others grouped about it. First time given to it.—S. D. Gordon.
This Revelation—holy, just and true—
Though oft I read, it seems forever new;
While light from Heaven upon its pages rests,
I feel its power, and with it I am blest.
To this blest treasure, O my soul, attend,
Here find a firm and everlasting friend—
A friend in all life’s varied changes sure,
Which shall to all eternity endure.
Henceforth, I take thee as my future guide,
Let naught from thee my youthful heart divide;
And then, if late or early death be mine,
All will be well, since I, O Lord, am Thine.
—Phoebe Palmer.
What trouble people take to learn a foreign language in order to have access to its writers! Let no trouble be too great to understand the language of God, His Word, His Son. To learn a foreign language, I get someone who knows it to teach me. The language of God is heavenly, spiritual, supernatural—altogether divine; only the Holy Spirit can teach me to understand it, to think God’s own thoughts. Let me take Him as my Teacher.