Mom always said, “Garbage in garbage out.” My parents taught me a lot of good and Godly principles that have proven true over the years. The longer I live, and the longer I study the Bible, the more I see the truths they taught me as a youngster in the words of Scripture. It is true that what we take in is what we will live out. Garbage in and garbage out was a modern way of saying what Scripture has always taught. Psalm 119:9-11 reads, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” How can we keep our way pure? By living out God’s word. How can we live out God’s word? By treasuring God’s word in our heart. Mom was right when she would say, “Garbage in equals garbage out.” And, the Psalmist is right when he said treasuring God’s word in our heart will lead to keeping our way pure before the Lord. Simply put, Bible in equals Bible out.
The Bible is consistent in both Old and New Testaments to teach that Bible in will equal Bible out. And, living out the Bible is the aim. James 1:22 reads, “But be doers of the word and not hearers only…” The end goal is not simply to accumulate head knowledge of the Scriptures, but rather, to live out the truth of Scripture. I truly believe the reason we don’t see as many Christians living out the Bible is because too few Christians are taking in the Bible on a regular basis. You will never take in enough Bible only sitting through one 30 minute sermon a week to live out the Bible everyday of your life. And that’s why the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119 said those who walk in the Law of the Lord are blessed. They seek Him with their whole heart, observe His testimonies, and walk in His Law. The word walk in the Old Testament sometimes just means to walk, but other times it is a reference to living. There are verses that refer to walking according to His ways, walking according to His statutes, and walking in His path. This is a reference to living according to God’s will; living according to God’s Word. God’s way is always according to God’s will, and God’s will is taught in God’s Word. So, walking according to His way begins with knowing His Word.
Psalm 119 is a masterful piece of literature. Each of the 22 stanzas in the Psalm represent a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza contains 8 phrases, or lines, and within each stanza every phrase begins with the Hebrew letter that section represents. In addition to maintaining this incredible alphabetic acrostic pattern throughout the entire Psalm, each section relates to a symbol used to teach that particular Hebrew letter. Just as we use symbols like apples and bumble bees to teach English letters, the Hebrew alphabet was also taught using symbols. Not only does each section relate to the symbol used to teach that letter, but all 22 sections have one main subject in common. All of them teach the value of learning and living the word of God. The Psalmist understands the need for God’s people to live according to God’s Word. He does know, however, that in order to live God’s Word you first need to learn God’s Word. This is the progression we should see in our Christian life. Learn the Bible in order to live the Bible. If you’re living according to the righteousness of God you will not have time for unrighteous living. As the old saying goes, “The Bible will keep you from sin, but sin will keep you from the Bible.”
The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:7-8, “I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.” The psalmist’s desire is to learn and live the word of God, but in the last phrase of verse 8 he asks the Lord to stay with him as he learns and lives the Bible. Learning and living the Bible on our own would be an impossible task. But, the good news is that we don’t have to do this on our own. The Lord is always present when we are learning the Bible, and He is always present when we attempt to live the Bible. It has been said before, but is worth repeating. Anywhere and anytime the Bible is being read or taught, the author is always present. The all present Holy Spirit who inspired all of Scripture to be written is present anytime and anywhere the Bible is being read or taught. The Holy Spirit is the author of all Scripture, and the Scripture says that Jesus is also the author and finisher of our faith. Just as God authored His word being penned He also authors our faith journey in the day to day. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible to be written inspires us to live out the Scriptures we have learned. He teaches us about what the Bible has said as we read and study, and then He brings to our remembrance what the Bible has said in day to day situations. The Holy Spirit helps us in our study of the Bible, and He helps us in our application of the Bible. Thank you Lord for helping us with Bible in, and for helping us with Bible out.
That leads us then to two essential questions we must ask. Am I willing to get into the Bible? And, am I willing to let the Bible get into me? There is a difference in reading the Bible and studying the Bible. The difference can be seen in the lives of those who settle for reading compared to those who dedicate themselves to studying the Bible. Can you honestly say that your Bible input is as it should be? Are you reading the Bible personally? Are you studying the Bible in a small group? Are you consistently sitting under sound biblical preaching? Are you wiling to let the Bible shape the way you think, speak, and act? When the Bible begins to take root in your life it will begin to bear fruit in your life. A lack of fruit in your life will be linked to a lack of Bible intake. Garbage in will result in garbage out. And, Bible in will result in Bible out.