ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tokonaki ‘Epeleli 21, 2018

Ko ‘etau fanongo tonu ki Hono Le‘ó

(we come to the Word as unto God Himself)

Fehu‘i #42

Ko e hā e founga ‘o ‘etau lau mo fanongo ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

‘I he loto ‘osikiavelenga, mateuteu, mo e lotu, ke tau lava ke tali ‘a e Folofolá  ‘i he tui, fufū ki hotau lotó, pea ke tau mo‘ui‘aki.

How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer, so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

2 TIMOTE 3:16-17

Ko e potu Folofola kotoa pē ne fakamānava mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘aonga foki ki he akonaki, ki he faka‘ilo hala, ki he fakatonutonu, ki he ngaohia ke mā‘oni‘oni: koe‘uhi ā ke tu‘u kakato ‘a e tangata faka‘otua, kuo ‘osi sāuni ki he ngāue lelei fuli pē.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG (cont…)

And then we practice it. Did Jesus say, "If you love me, you will have a tingling sensation in your heart"? No, he didn't say that, though that's wonderful. But he said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" John 14:15). So if we are serious about loving God, we must be very serious about obeying God and obeying his Word to us. That's the aim: to be transformed by it, to embrace it in faith, and to worship at his feet.

Really, in its simplest form, we ought to come to the Word of God with the same sort of attitude with which we'd come to God himself. If God spoke to you, which he does in the Scriptures, if God opened his mouth to us, how would we approach him? Well, think we would listen carefully. We would listen diligently. We would listen submissively. We would listen expectantly. And we'd listen with an aim to love and obey.

Prayer

Giver of the Word, help us to treasure your Scriptures as our most precious possession. May it be in our minds and on our lips. Let it transform our thinking and reform our living. Make us attentive students and devoted servants of your perfect Word. Amen.