QUALITY Over QUANTITY - a Message for Children

It's quality over quantity when reading through the Bible. Today in Isaiah 28, I see it's not so much about staying up-to-date with my Bible reading calendar as it is about taking time to take the truth to heart. I'm to apply the Bible's lessons little by little, a step at a time, like a little child learning to walk:

“. . . it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” - from verses 9-10

Like a child I'll stumble, but as I'm flat on my back with the wind knocked out of me I can be thankful that I'm learning to be careful with the truth I know. In the long run a few bumps and bruises are much less painful than the alternative described just a few verses further:

. . . the Lord will speak to this people . . . yet they would not hear. And the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. - from verses 11-13

Yikes! The same truth that helps me learn to walk is the truth that can break me. Let me respect and heed the truth of God's word so that I won't be broken, snared, and taken, for I agree with Hebrews 10:31 when it says, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." What a scary thought!

Yet my walk is not meant to be difficult if I just keep on trying. In today's New Testament section, Ephesians 5, I can't help but picture a game of monkey-see-monkey-do or following-the-leader. I'm to be an imitator of God, as a beloved child. I'm to "walk in love, as Christ loved [me] and gave himself up for [me]" (from verse 1). How simple is that? One step at a time!

A WORD ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Throughout this month of September, I've been considering the purpose of this blog. I love to jot down thoughts about God's word, true. I use scripture daily to shape my prayers and to plan my course in life. There is just nothing that compares to personally looking into God's living and active word. It is so helpful to me!

Every word of God proves true;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you

and you be found a liar.

– Prov. 30:5-6

Though I love to write, I'd prefer to be proven a complete fool than to ever distort biblical meaning and sentiment. The Bible teaches us to interpret the text for ourselves (and not necessarily for others), so I want to take a moment to clearly express that my intention is not to interpret the Bible for you, but to encourage you to fearlessly dig into God's word for yourself.

Take my examples of interpretation, if they are helpful, and then go and do likewise. I know that God will reward your commitment to work your way through the entire Bible, reading on a regular and consistent basis. Each time you read, may the Holy Spirit speak truth to your heart! Don't let me (or anybody else) manipulate God's word, but KNOW THE SCRIPTURE FOR YOURSELF.

I pray that God will use his word in your daily life, and that:

. . . the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know . . . the hope to which he has called you . . . the riches of his glorious inheritance . . . and . . . the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might . . . – from Eph. 1:17-19

DEAR HARDENED HEARTS

I pray for the ones who are hardened. My heart pleads, "not so!" for the ones I love.

The Scripture speaks of the Pharaoh of Moses' time:

. . . “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. - from Romans 9:17-18

Speaking of his own people, the Paul writes in Romans:

. . . the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear . . . ” - from Romans 11:7-8

I plead for those who are hardened! I ask that hard hearts be softened, that their eyes will see and ears will hear. Only God can change the ones I love, and He will because I'm asking! Who are YOU asking for today?

The Price of a Life

Last week's reading reminded me of the value of an individual life:

Truly no man can redeem another,

or give to God the price of his life,

for the ransom of their life is costly

and can never suffice . . . - Psalm 49:7-8

It is true that we can't buy or give the gift of freedom to another person. Those who are trapped in darkness can be led out by God alone, but we CAN pronounce a blessing over our loved ones in prayer. Jesus defined the purpose of "Christian" work to the apostle Paul. We can pray along these lines as well:

. . . open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ - from Acts 26:16-18

Birthday Prayer

As I pass the half-century mark in my life and count my many gifts and treasures, I want to state once more my intention, lest I should forget!

Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and

my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

In years to come I pray the words of my mouth will consistently acknowledge and honor Jesus, and that I will keep the eyes of my heart focused on him moment-by-moment and day-by-day! I rely on his Spirit to supply the wherewithal to fulfill this intention, and am thankful that he is able to do it! AMEN.

FAITH IN THE FACE OF DISTRESS

The story of Job is not my favorite part of the Bible, but I'm playing catch-up from last week's readings (24th and 25th of June), and it is time to go through it again! It hurts just to look at that poor guy, and read the account of all he went through. But I'll read through the saga again because I believe what the Bible says of itself, "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . ."

Once again, I'm blessed by reading even this account, which I don't find "uplifting." It is good for me to be reminded that non-believers look at God's people and think our lives are just a bowl of cherries. They think, just as the adversary stated of Job, that we don't have a care in the world, so why would we NOT speak praises of God? Why would we be anything but happy campers when we lead such a charmed life? The enemy said this of Job:

Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you [God] not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? - Job 1:9-11

Maybe you are suffering unduly right now, just as Job did when God removed the "hedge" and allowed Job to be tested within an inch of his life. You now have the opportunity to prove your faith by walking it out even when you are not feeling particularly "blessed," but in fact quite the opposite - burdened down. Your faith shines as a beacon in the night when you speak well of God even in times of distress:

. . . [Job] said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." from - Job 1:21

We often throw around the term, "the joy of the Lord," and I think this is an defining example of that very thing. God points to Job and exclaims, " . . . my servant . . . still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason." - from Job 2:3

There is no ulterior motive of a charmed life full of blessings here. Job honors God out of pure faith. There is no veneer of earthly security, no prosperity granted from the magical Santa Claus in the sky, nothing but a belief that God is, and is to be trusted. Even Job's best friends taunt him, saying many things that hurt him deeply. At least Job's buddy Eliphaz got one thing right when he asked Job this question:

Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? – Job 4:6

It's true that the fear of God should be our source of confidence. Ant although we do not trust in our own integrity (we trust in Christ alone), we do train our integrity by making it a habit to line ourselves up with Bible truth. When we hide God's truth in our hearts and his word in our heads, so that we will have reason to hope that our integrity will not fail us in a crisis, but that we will have the integrity to do right when we are up against a wall.

And it is typical for us Christians to be against a wall from time to time, for sure. We're faced with rejection, misunderstandings, oppression, and all kinds of harsh circumstances. Yet the answer when bad things happen for no good reason is to keep right on going, confidently moving forward in the direction you are called. Keep right on trusting in God’s promises, and standing on the truth of his word, which cannot be broken.

My prayers are with you today, as I hope yours are with me. Let’s claim victory for all the saints today, that God’s people will stand firm in the truth of his word, and hold fast our integrity for the joy of the Lord. Let's count it a special privilege to bless God’s name, especially in the face of trouble. This attitude is what sets us apart as Christians, and shows the rest of the world a little more about who God is. And THAT is what we live for, right? AMEN.

Our Spoken Words

Jesus is synonymous with his words because he acted out everything he said. His words were so much the truth that there is no difference between what he said and who he is. There’s not one promise unfulfilled, not one retraction, not a boast or uncontrolled outburst. We all know (and sometimes we are) someone who is NOT who he or she says. Either through promises broken, falsehoods spoken, or harshness and haste, we fall far short of what we profess. Jesus prayed for you and me when he said:

. . . I have given them the words that you gave me . . . I am praying for them . . . Holy Father . . . Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth . . . – from John 17: 8-17

We have the words (the WORD, the Bible) that Jesus gave us. With them we are, in fact, equipped to live out the blessing Jesus prayed over us. When we speak the truth of God’s word over the people and situations in our lives, we see real change. We can speak Bible truth to God in prayer, and we can speak it to our troubles. Jesus said:

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” – Matt. 18:18

Jesus even gave us the awesome power and responsibility to forgive, which has a whole lot more to do with what we say in our hearts and with our mouths than it does with how we feel:

"If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." - John 20:23

Jesus gave us power to bind, to loose, to bless, and to forgive. May we receive the Holy Spirit power today to exercise our authority in Christ over the words that come out of our mouths, as well as our mental talk. Instead of the disappointment of speaking out of turn, may we see the fruit of words well-spoken. Let's agree with what God himself says about his word:

. . . I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, "My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure . . ." - from Isaiah 46:9-10

Even to life-and-death extremes, may we insist upon speaking God's truth:

. . . God . . . gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. – from Romans 4:17

Let's pledge to speak life today!