Often after a church service I’ve heard people say, “That message was just for me.”
I’ve often felt the same way. This is the power of the
Word of God. It is fresh every morning, fresh to each of God’s children. He
spoke it when His words were first recorded, and He continues to speak through
it when His Word is faithfully expressed.
This is a ‘living’ book. While I can learn intellectually by
rereading some books, there is nothing like the Bible to minister to my spirit.
Yet there is a qualifier before anyone picks it up . . .
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
The Spirit of God opens eyes and minds so that God’s
people can see what He is doing and hear what He wants to say, not only to the
world in general but to each of us in particular. Besides that, what He says is
pertinent to our personal situations. He gives answers to questions, comfort in
sorrow, explanations to perplexities, encouragement to the discouraged . . .
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7–11)
However, Scripture and the Spirit of God does not do this
for those who think the Bible is an outdated old book written by men from
another time and another culture. Those who think God has moved, changed, or
aged, and anyone that does not believe in Jesus Christ do not hear God speak
through Scripture or in any other way. Without the relationship of salvation by
grace through faith, the Word is just words.
Tozer says that nothing is dated in the Bible. Instead he
senses that it belongs to him. Even though the Holy Spirit inspired the people
who wrote the words, He “made them so
universally applicable that every Christian who reads them today in any part of
the world, in any language or dialect, forgets that they were written to
someone else and says, ‘This was addressed to me. The Holy Spirit had me in
mind. This is not antiquated and dated. This is the living Truth for me—now!’”
This makes God’s Word fresh every day, relevant to every
situation. He speaks every day and what He says guides my life. Faith in Him is
not only precious — it is practical!
^^^^^^^^^^
Jesus, today appears to be an ordinary day, yet You are
not ordinary and having You in my life makes each day special, often an
adventure. This adventure is heightened by hearing You speak, by being reminded
that Your steadfast love never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end — “They are new every morning; great is your
faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my
portion,’ says my soul, therefore I will hope in You.” (Lamentations
3:22–24)
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