When we come to the Word of the living God and we read the divinely inspired, God-breathed words, we must come away with conviction of the self rather than compliments of the self. We must come away with instruction and transformation rather than just information and self-justification.

When we read the convicting words, we must be drawn to repentance in our sin, not rejoicing in the sins of others that we may feel “less evil.” The emotions we experience in reading the Word of God reveal the effect that the Word of God has in our lives.

If you experience excitement and joy apart from sorrow and conviction, then you have a distorted view of what Jesus died for. If you experience sorrow and conviction apart from excitement and joy, then you have a distorted view of what Jesus died for. If you experience sorrow and conviction in your sins as well as excitement and joy in the cross, then you have a full view of what Jesus died for.

The cross is the ultimate sign of the weight of our depravity and sin, but also the ultimate sign of the depths and love that God has for us, even in our brokenness.

It is God’s Word that informs us of all of these things. It is God’s Word that drives us to tears in sorrow in the discovery of our great assault to His very self. It is God’s Word that drives us to tears in supreme joy in the discovery of His great assurance of our blood-bought, divinely-purchased salvation.

When is the last time you meditated on the Word of God?

Has the Word of God move you to tears?

Does the Word continue to bring you to tears?

When is the last time that the gospel brought you to any sort of emotion?

When is the last time that you experienced the awe of the cross?

When is the last time that you got alone with God and His Word, allowing the Scriptures to saturate your life in your thoughts, speech, and actions?

Consider the comments of these heroes of the faith:

“A dusty Bible leads to a dirty life.”  –Charles Spurgeon

“A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a life that isn’t.”  –Charles Spurgeon

“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”  –D.L. Moody