Yesterday, a friend and I were discussing the uses of the word of God, and how some of use it as a talisman, of sorts. When he asked me what that meant, I told him that a talisman was a holy object used by religious people to ward off evil, to bring luck, or things of that nature. The Scriptures, though, are always meant to bring us in to closer communion with God. They are meant to draw us in to Him, not ward off trials and temptations; the Scriptures draw us to God who gets us THROUGH trials and temptations.
Another friend and I were discussing a video he sent me, where a preacher was talking about other books mentioned in the Bible. My friend thought it interesting, and I couldn’t figure out what direction the preacher was going. The preacher, like many people I have met and hear, merely borrowed the authority of Scripture, stringing verses together, but saying nothing of substance. I wondered why my friend was fascinated, and I was trying to figure out the point.
Praying on this subject this morning, I came to a conclusion: believer, as Charles H. Spurgeon once said: visit many books, but LIVE in the Bible. And that is where I live. I am in the Bible many times a day, some for my personal benefit, others for leading others through the Scripture, all for edification and communion with Christ. I’m not perfect, nor am I perfect at this practice, but I know that each and every one of us who loves Jesus should pursue God, and we gain understanding, wisdom, and communion with Him through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. We know God’s heart through the words He inspired in those 66 books written by 40 authors on three continents in three languages over a period of 1,500 years, because they all point toward Jesus, and God’s desire to reconcile His creation to Himself. With the interpretation of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within born again believers, the Scriptures lead us in to a deeper understanding of God’s will for our lives, and can draw us further in to His presence. Let His word be enough! Seek God, and His peace, in spite of out circumstances, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 55:6-11
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Romans 10:5-17
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 15:1-7
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
2 Timothy 3:10-17
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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.
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