1. Psalm 119: (NKJV)
97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.

2. Psalm 119: (NKJV)
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

4. Love For Scripture If we are going to be better Bible students…
If we are going to Dig Deeper into God’s word...
If we are really going to grow our faith through the word...
We must become lovers of scripture!

5. Love For Scripture
Our theme is designed to encourage us to really get into God’s word
If we do not love God’s word, then we might find it difficult to dig into it
Our goal this morning is to help us understand how we might cultivate a love for God’s word that will allow us to dig deeper

6. Love For Scripture 1. Understand How To Love
We must first understand the idea of what it means and what it takes to love something
We sometimes confuse fairy tale love with real love
Real love is something that is intentional and often must be learned

7. Love For Scripture 1. Understand How To Love
Love itself is something that is cultivated and can grow
Genesis 24:67 – Isaac and Rebekah
Matthew 5:44-46 – Love for enemies
Same with our brethren; we learn to love someone we have never met before

8. Love For Scripture 1. Understand How To Love
Every point that we mention from here on will help us cultivate that love we desire for scriptures
Remember, the love may not be there in the beginning, but it can be there in the end if we are willing to work on it
Then we will desire and thirst for the word

9. Love For Scripture 2. Read It
One of the best ways to cultivate a love for God’s word is to simply read it
We may allow misconceptions about God’s word to keep us from actually reading it (Ex. Boring, Confusing, etc.)
We will never learn to love His word if we don’t actually read it (Ezra 7:10)

10. Love For Scripture 2. Read It
If you like history, read the Old Testament and learn it’s rich history
If you want to know more about Jesus and become more like Him, read the Gospels
To study the church, read Acts and the Epistles

11. Love For Scripture 3. Pray About It
God has given us an open invitation to His throne room through prayer (Heb. 4:16; I Thess. 5:17, I Pet. 5:7)
“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Ps. 119:18)
“Give me understanding according to Your word” (Ps. 119:169)

12. Love For Scripture 3. Pray About It
We can pray that God will give us a desire and a love for His word
Jesus said, “Ask,and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7)
Anything we ask according to His will, He hears us (I Jn. 5:14-15)

13. Love For Scripture 3. Pray About It
Certainly we can pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding
It would also be within God’s will if we were to pray for a desire and hunger for God’s word
This can help us cultivate that love for His word

14. Love For Scripture 4. Remember It’s Origination
One thing that might help us gain a love for scripture would be to reflect on who exactly this book is coming from
It comes from our creator, our savior and our sustainer
It comes from the One who loved us enough to give His Son

15. Love For Scripture 4. Remember It’s Origination
This isn’t just any book from any author vying for our attention
It’s the way that our God and Creator seeks to communicate to us
We should desire to read it because it comes from the very mind of God (God-breathed – II Tim. 3:16)

16. Love For Scripture 5. Realize it’s Power and Importance
How can we possibly stay away from a book that is so important?
The word of God is living and powerful and able to save our souls (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12; Js. 1:21)
It reveals God’s will for our lives and is of profit (II Tim. 3:16-17)

17. Love For Scripture 5. Realize it’s Power and Importance
His words are life to us (Ps. 119:93; Jn. 6:63)
His word strengthens us (Ps. 119:28)
God’s word comforts us (Ps. 119:76; Rom. 15:4; II Cor. 1:3-4)
It gives us peace (Ps. 119:165; Jn. 16:33)