Have you ever watched the movie Brown Sugar starring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs? One of the central themes is the question, “When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?” It’s asked throughout the film, sparking reflection and deep connection to the music.
I want to borrow that idea and ask this community, “When did you fall in love with the Word of God?”
For me, it happened right after my baptism on November 30, 2014. I felt a fresh wave of power, love, and a sound mind—and I had questions about everything! I don’t even remember what prompted me to order a study Bible, but it has turned out to be the absolute best purchase of my life.
Reading it was like stepping into an entirely new world. Scripture didn’t just answer my questions—it transformed my life. One verse after another, it drew me into an intimate relationship with the Lord. That love for His Word blossomed into an amazing friendship with my sister Monique, and together we launched our podcast, Views from Jenes La: Merging Faith and Culture. It even inspired me to write my first book, Faith Filled & Fabulous: Lessons Learned & Learning.
Let me tell you, the thought of being an author or podcaster had never even crossed my mind! But opening the Book unlocked doors I didn’t even know existed, giving me opportunities to share truth with my peers and beyond.
The Word Is Alive
The Bible truly has answers for everything. It’s alive and relevant for all times. I’ve read scriptures in the past—some of which didn’t make sense to me back in 2016—only to have them resurface in my spirit in 2024, perfectly illuminating my situation.
What made Scripture come alive for me was realizing that the people in the Bible were real human beings. They had thoughts, feelings, struggles, and triumphs, just like us. Once I began to read the Bible with this perspective and allowed the Holy Spirit to fill in the gaps, the words leapt off the pages with fresh meaning.
For example, take this passage about Sarah:
“Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?’ The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?”’”
—Genesis 18:11-13 (ESV)
I think about this scripture often because, like Sarah, I’ve had moments when God showed me something that seemed impossible in my own strength. I can imagine Sarah chuckling to herself, thinking, I won’t get my hopes up. That connection to her humanity makes the latter part of the story even more powerful and encouraging.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”
—Genesis 18:14 (ESV)
“The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.”
—Genesis 21:1-2 (ESV)
As the youngins might say, “[God] might tell you a joke, but He’ll never tell you a lie.” In fact, He cannot lie.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent.”
—Numbers 23:19
Do you see how one scripture can lead to another, connecting truths that make perfect sense and build upon each other? The Word of God is beautiful. It’s complex yet clarifying when viewed through the Spirit of God.
Open the Book, Beloved
No matter what you’re facing in life—whether it’s peace, comfort, challenges, wisdom, correction, guidance, encouragement, or love—you’ll find it in the ancient pages of God’s Word.
(Add visual context here: Perhaps an image of a Bible opened with highlighted verses, a hand resting on it, or a sunrise illuminating the pages.)
It is my sincere prayer that each of you reading this today would open the Word of God and allow it to open up within you. One day, I hope to hear or read your testimony about the moment you first fell in love with the Word of God.
Resources to help you Open the book, Beloved:
- Study Bible – Life Application Bible
- Journals – Prayer Journals (also found at Burlington or Ross stores)
- Bible Commentary – The Tony Evans Bible Commentary
- Bible Teachers (suggestions) – Dr. Tony Evans, Jackie Hill Perry