Last Sunday's message was delivered by our youth pastor, who succeeded in his professed goal of delivering God's Word, as opposed to his own. One of the most striking elements of the message for me was the reminder of Christ's battle with Satan after 40 days in the desert.
It was "illogical," Jake noted, for Christ to move immediately from baptism and the Father's audible blessing ("This is my Son, in Whom I am well pleased") into a desolate, lonely desert experience.
Also "illogical" was His choice of weapons when Satan attacked at the peak of his hunger, thirst and fatigue. With each "thrust," or attack from Satan, Jesus responded not out of His infinite power, but with Scripture: "The Word says..."
What an awesome motivation to spend more time in the Word! If Christ Himself invested so much time in the Word, why shouldn't I?!
Thank you, Father, for this reminder to make time in your Word a personal priority. Thank you for the gift of the written Word, and for the fact that most of Your believers today have access to its riches. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, Who breathes life into the Scriptures that unbelievers see as a mere collection of words. Thank you for this powerful weapon (defensive and offensive) in the ongoing war in the spiritual realm. May we continue to acknowledge this gift, especially as we teach as Your church.
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Your words a joy and delight
Jeremiah 15:16
"Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."
I recall as a young man traveling to a neighboring city to take an "in depth" course on a book of the Bible. I do not recall which book it was, but I remember experiencing a strong sense of frustration that I had not been exposed to that depth of instruction in weekly sermons.
Years later (too many years!) I sat in the front row of our new church, literally weeping with joy to be blessed in a "through the Bible" fellowship that offered a steady diet of "meat" rather than "baby's milk."
Are many churches guilty of offering a watered down gospel, delivered in bite size portions to a body of believers eager to move on from "church" to the adventures of the day? Certainly. But am I to be "absolved" of personal responsibility if I choose to make such a place my church home? Absolutely not.
I was reminded in mid-week Bible study this week of Jeremiah 15, which compares the Scriptures to a delightful meal. Who among us does not take every opportunity for a delicious snack or meal? Yet another verse compares God's Word to sweet honey.
"To develop an appetite for the Word, eat it!" our pastor suggested. "Chew on it, enjoy it, and you will develop a craving for more." The snack will turn into a banquet.
I encourage you to join me in praying for increased desire and opportunity to reap the rewards of God's precious word. From milk ... to meat ... to honey!
"Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."
I recall as a young man traveling to a neighboring city to take an "in depth" course on a book of the Bible. I do not recall which book it was, but I remember experiencing a strong sense of frustration that I had not been exposed to that depth of instruction in weekly sermons.
Years later (too many years!) I sat in the front row of our new church, literally weeping with joy to be blessed in a "through the Bible" fellowship that offered a steady diet of "meat" rather than "baby's milk."
Are many churches guilty of offering a watered down gospel, delivered in bite size portions to a body of believers eager to move on from "church" to the adventures of the day? Certainly. But am I to be "absolved" of personal responsibility if I choose to make such a place my church home? Absolutely not.
I was reminded in mid-week Bible study this week of Jeremiah 15, which compares the Scriptures to a delightful meal. Who among us does not take every opportunity for a delicious snack or meal? Yet another verse compares God's Word to sweet honey.
"To develop an appetite for the Word, eat it!" our pastor suggested. "Chew on it, enjoy it, and you will develop a craving for more." The snack will turn into a banquet.
I encourage you to join me in praying for increased desire and opportunity to reap the rewards of God's precious word. From milk ... to meat ... to honey!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Let your ears test words
As a newspaper reporter, I had an editor who urged in the case of "writer's block" that I use, at least in order to get a story started, a simile.
"Write the words 'Like a' ..." he said, and take the story from there.
I was struck recently in a Bible study by a simile that compared the senses of hearing and taste.
Job 34: 3
"Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?"
This verse, this simile, was not written by someone dealing with writer's block and looming deadline. To the contary, it is God's word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. As is always the case in the Scriptures, the verse is worthy of contemplation.
All of us who have suffered the sting of hurtful speech recognize that words have power. All of us who have spoken in anger, without thoughtful consideration of the impact of our words, recognize that a word spoken is impossible to "take back."
Should we not test our words against the will of the Father before speaking them?
In yet another way of looking at this verse, I consider the words I choose to hear (TV, movies, music, water cooler conversation) and the words I choose to read (newspaper, Internet, magazines, books). Some food and drink fall into the category of "acquired tastes." Pickled herring, for example, or chittlins. Beer, or coffee.
Should we not test those words that "taste bad" - spoken or written - against the will of the Father before we make them a part of our daily "diet?"
I pray, Father, that I would take more seriously my appeal to be blessed with "eyes to see, and ears to hear."
Proverbs 25:11
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."
"Write the words 'Like a' ..." he said, and take the story from there.
I was struck recently in a Bible study by a simile that compared the senses of hearing and taste.
Job 34: 3
"Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?"
This verse, this simile, was not written by someone dealing with writer's block and looming deadline. To the contary, it is God's word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. As is always the case in the Scriptures, the verse is worthy of contemplation.
All of us who have suffered the sting of hurtful speech recognize that words have power. All of us who have spoken in anger, without thoughtful consideration of the impact of our words, recognize that a word spoken is impossible to "take back."
Should we not test our words against the will of the Father before speaking them?
In yet another way of looking at this verse, I consider the words I choose to hear (TV, movies, music, water cooler conversation) and the words I choose to read (newspaper, Internet, magazines, books). Some food and drink fall into the category of "acquired tastes." Pickled herring, for example, or chittlins. Beer, or coffee.
Should we not test those words that "taste bad" - spoken or written - against the will of the Father before we make them a part of our daily "diet?"
I pray, Father, that I would take more seriously my appeal to be blessed with "eyes to see, and ears to hear."
Proverbs 25:11
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."
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