“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

Do you delight in the law of the Lord?

Let me rephrase that question slightly: Is God’s Word something that gives you great joy—so much so that you can’t get enough of it?

It isn’t often that way for me. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I don’t often think of being in God’s Word as my highest joy in life.

No, my time in God’s Word is often brief and rushed, like an obligatory task that I need to check off a list before moving on to other things. Sometimes it doesn’t even make the daily to-do list at all. And I certainly don’t meditate on God’s Word day and night.

Spending time in God’s Word is undeniably the most important thing I can do in this life. It’s where I learn about my Savior Jesus—and how I can say thank you to him with my life for what he has done to save me from my sins.

As another psalmist wrote, “[God’s] word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). Through life in this sin-darkened world, Scripture is our guide for how we are to live as God’s children; more than that, it shows us our Savior, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—the only way home to our Father in heaven.

And yet, so often, my Bible stays closed and unread on my shelf; the notifications on my phone ask if I’m still using the Bible app. I go to church, but that hour or so is sadly the majority of my time thinking about God’s Word each week.

Sound familiar?

If it does, why don’t we often consider God’s Word our highest joy in life? Why don’t we spend more time in God’s Word, keeping it in the forefront of our minds each day?

For me, there are so many other voices vying for my attention in this sin-darkened world—so many other things that seem more important. And when I finally check all of those things off my to-do list, there are so many other “more enjoyable” things that I could be doing than reading my Bible.

God, forgive me, I don’t always delight in your Word. I have no excuse! I need my Savior. I need Jesus.

Dear Christian, Jesus delighted in the law of the Lord and meditated on it day and night for you and me—for all the times we fail to make our time spent in God’s Word our highest priority and highest joy in life.

Jesus’ delight is now ours. His obedience is now ours. His righteousness is now ours. Christ has lifted us off of the path of the wicked and put us on a new path—the way home to heaven.

Because of Jesus, we can now walk the way of the righteous. We falter and sometimes fall, but our Savior assures us of what he has done for us, and we keep walking—we keep our eyes fixed on him.

Where is our delight, dear Christian?

As God’s dearly loved children, it’s in his Word.

By his grace, through Spirit-worked faith in Jesus, God has created in our hearts the burning desire to learn more about his Word and grow closer to him.

May God continue to fan that desire into flame more and more, until our time spent in his Word becomes our highest joy in life—and may we share that joy with others. May we be strengthened and encouraged to follow in God’s ways with our eyes fixed on our Savior Jesus until we’re finally home in heaven with him.

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