Jesus gave a parable in Matthew 13:45-46 that illustrates how valuable God and His kingdom is: "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" When you get to realise how important and precious God and His Word is, you'll want more of it, more than anything else in this world.
I just love how the NLT version expresses this thought in Psalm 119:72, which says, "Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver." Friend, God's Word is more precious than anything else.
Do you want to have a greater hunger for the Word of God? Here are some things you can do to achieve that.
1. Read it
Nothing can ever increase your appetite for food compared to actually eating it. When you try to eat more than what you usually consume, your stomach seems to expand. The next time you eat, you'll find that you have the capacity to eat more than your usual amount.
In the same way, eat more of God's Word! Don't settle for just one verse or passage or chapter, stopping only because "you've had enough." Be like Jeremiah who said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:16)
2. Obey it
Obeying the Word of God opens us up to more of God's Word. In the same way that some orders have to be followed or obeyed before a new set of instructions can be given (and understood), we must obey the Word before "receiving more revelation" from the Lord.
James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
3. Experience it
Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Yet we also know that faith without action is dead (see James 2:14-26). We need to act on the faith that we receive from the Word of God, so that we can fully experience the power of God's Word.
1 Corinthians 4:20 says, "The Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."
We need to act in faith, in obedience to the Word of God. And when we see God's power so alive, how can we not want more demonstrations of His glory?
