Over the last couple of weeks I have been challenged by my father with some of the studies that he has been sharing with me. As we have talked about the studies and looked into God’s Word, it has been amazing to me how alive the Word of God really is. I have known it all my life and have seen it from time to time in my ministry, but there is a newness and excitement from my discussions with my father.
I get concerned about the church today and how complacent we can become concerning God’s Word. We have come to a place where we don’t know how to look anything up, we don’t have much Bible knowledge (except maybe John 3:16), and in our conversations about Christianity that we have we little to say about God’s Word. I thank the Lord for His Word because it is through His Word that I find my way in this life. I don’t have to ask Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer, or The Chew what I should do. I don’t even have to ask my pastor what I should do. I can go to the Word of God and find out exactly what I should be doing and how I should be living. That gives me great freedom. After all wasn’t it God who created me, who redeemed me, who loved me, who now calls me His child? I can find all that in the Word of God, The Bible.
In the Bible we can find strength for the battles that we have in our lives. In the Bible we can find the weapons that we need to fight the real enemy, not humans but the principalities of the air. In the Bible we learn how to bring all our thoughts in line with God and His thoughts, which is how you know what to do and how to handle yourself.
We should not be ashamed of the Bible. We shouldn’t hide it from the world. They need to hear what God is saying to them. How much He loves them. How much He cares for them. How much He wants to be near to them. Well, let me put it this way, He wants all of those things for you as well. The nation of Israel were successful in their battles and struggles when they looked to God for His Word and when they obeyed. If you read through the book of Judges you will see that over and over again. When they followed His Word and directions they were victorious, the moment they started settling down and joining with the “world” they lost and faced the judgment of God. I believe that there is a great lesson in that for all of us. If we read His Word, take in His Word, do His Word, we have success and victory. When we walk our own way, we fail and are defeated over and over again.
Let me encourage you to pick up the Word of God today, read it, and then live it.
Love all of you and talk with you soon.
Pastor Rob
