When people begin to talk about their relationship with the Lord, and their time in the Word and in prayer with excitement and passion, do you find yourself eagerly nodding in understanding and agreement?

Or…do you cross your arms and roll your eyes, assuming it must be forced, and phony.  After all, no one is that passionate about spiritual things… Pastors and missionaries, maybe.  But, certainly no “normal” person.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” ~Jeremiah 15:16

Sounds like another happy-all-the-time, too-good-to-be-true, super-spiritual Christian.

Or does it?

Jeremiah, if you will remember, was known as “the weeping prophet.”  This is the same man who wrote Lamentations.  Not exactly a happy book.  And, if you look closely at the chapter surrounding the verse above, you will quickly realize that at the time he penned these words, Jeremiah’s life was far from perfect.  Only a few verses earlier, he was wishing that he had never been born!

But, even in the midst of utter discouragement, he was able to find not just solace, but joy and delight in the Word of God.

While those who are excited and passionate about the things of the Lord may sometimes seem like a figment of the pastor’s imagination, or like they are putting on a super-spiritual act…they just might be very much for real.

Not because they, or their lives, are perfect…but, precisely because they are not.  They struggle with heartache, disappointment, trials, pain, sin, and discouragement…just like you, just like me, just like everyone else.

In other words, they are normal.

Thankfully, God does not require perfection of His children before we are allowed the privilege of sitting at His feet through His Word.  We can come as we are.

“My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” ~Psalm 119:25

God’s Word is not a list of do’s and don’ts designed to make us “good” Christians.  Yes, it does offer instruction on how we are to live in this world – and correction and rebuke when necessary.  But, it also offers comfort, encouragement, wisdom, joy – even, or rather, especially when our souls are dry, parched, and weary from the various trials and battles of life.

But, it does not become a joy and a delight, and it cannot nourish and revive our hearts, sitting on a bookshelf getting dusty.

We must open it.
We must read it.

Only then will we be able to declare with the psalmist: “Oh how I love your law! How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ~Psalm 119:97 & 103