Keep Company With The Word - Read

Read your bible, read books and articles that explain/ simplify the Word for your understanding. There are good books and articles out there written by men and women of God that can help you gain a deeper and better understanding of scriptures. Audiobooks are good; and as much as you listen, I call on you to read because there are enormous benefits to reading. Pick up a book, your bible and read through, page by page. It makes a difference. It also helps expose you to different writing styles that you may not otherwise pick up on through listening to the book being read to you. It gives you the opportunity to read at your pace and verify the information read.

Paul’s advice to Timothy;

1 Timothy 4:13 (NKJV)

Until I come, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers and teaching them.

Emphasis Mine

Another translation says “focus on the public reading of the scriptures to the church”.

There are many benefits to publicly reading scriptures; one of which is that it keeps you engaged. And what about helping those who do not know how to read? They will benefit from listening to the reading of scriptures. Amen.

Just a quick highlight on this point. Reading scriptures publicly dates back to Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah (when Ezra read out the scriptures to the Israelites). Jesus did likewise and Paul was encouraging Timothy to practice reading out publicly to his congregation. Amen.

Nehemiah 8:2-3 (NKJV)

 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Keep Company With The Word - Listen

Another way to keep company with the Word is by listening to the Word being preached or taught. Listening to scriptural preaching and teachings, help you grow spiritually.

Luke 5:1 (NLT)

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.

Emphasis Mine

The purpose of preaching and teaching is such that there will be listeners who can benefit from the Word of God. I want us to note that Jesus was preaching the Word of God. We are told that the crowds pressed in on Him to listen to the Word of God.

Another example;

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Emphasis Mine

Peter had preached a message and three thousand had accepted the message, got baptized and were added to their number. So, this scripture is referring to the believers in that community at the time. After accepting the message, they had to grow spiritually by devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching. The apostles were teaching the Word of God.

Listening to preaching and teachings brought to you by men and women of God is good. Here is the Word of caution for you as you go about listening. Do your assignment of gaining some understanding about the life of the person you listen to. This is important because it will be most beneficial to listen to someone who does what they teach others.

This is what Luke tells us

Acts 1:1 (NKJV)

 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Emphasis Mine

Doing and teaching are inseparable. And it must be noted that the doing comes first before the teaching. Amen! Listening to teachings about the Word, not storytelling, is one way of keeping company with the Word. Cultivate the atmosphere of your home, your car, your office, and any environment you find yourself through listening to the Word and songs that are Word-based.