The Power of Scripture

The Power of Scripture 

 

Last Saturday, I was invited to participate in an ordination council for a young man seeking ordination into the ministry. I always enjoy helping during these special times in the life of a church. It is always a blessing to hear about how God is at work in the life of someone and is still in the business of calling individuals into ministry roles for his church. 

As this gentleman shared his testimony and call to ministry I was struck by his story of his conversion. He was a grown man, a husband, a father and had been raised in the church. Deep down in his heart he knew something was not right in his life. His life was one thing at church and another the rest of the time. He led a double life if you will and was enslaved in the sin of pornography. 

He knew he was far from God and felt like he could not go on living this way. He started reading the Gospel of John and as he was confronted with the Savior in the scripture, he knew he was not a follower of Christ, trapped in sin, and far from God. Through the Holy Spirit speaking to him through scripture he gave his life to Christ. 

There is power in the scripture. 

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (ESV). 

The scripture is like a surgeon’s scalpel. Aren’t you glad of that? As we consistently read, study, memorize and meditate on scripture the Holy Spirit does his surgery on our life through the Bible. 

Lord, thank you for the Word of God! 

 

Consider Creation

 Consider the Creation 

We are extremely fortunate to live in an area of the world that is so beautiful. In a short drive we can be at the coast or in the mountains. Sometimes if we pause to see it, we can be even moved by the beauty and grandeur of creation here in the midlands at sunrise or sunset.  

For the past week I have been noticing the beauty of creation in a more intentional way. I had the privilege to travel to Florida and see the beauty of the gulf. As I have been surrounded by such beauty, I have been meditating on some verses in Psalm 8. 

Psalm 8 says this, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that you care for him? (Verses 3-4, NASB). 

The fact is that the beauty and complexity of creation all speak loudly of a creator, who made everything including you and me. This marvelous creation is also a reminder that God has a purpose for you and me. Our lives are not just by chance, and we are not merely a product of our environment.   

God’s desire is for us to know him in a personal way for all eternity. The season of spring and of Easter remind us of new life and new birth. We celebrate at Easter that God did everything possible for us to have a relationship with him through sending his son. Jesus’ death on the cross and the empty tomb proclaim that new life is available for all who will put their trust in Jesus. 

Today, I want to urge you to consider creation and to listen to the message that even created order proclaims to us about God’s marvelous love. 

 

God's Hand in Everything

 "God's hand in everything" 

 
I read a quote this week from an unnamed source, "Those who leave everything in God's hands will eventually see God's hands in everything." I think the Lord is trying to teach me something about that of late. When things do not go the way, I planned, or circumstances become difficult in my life I tend to complain and to fight against the situation. I am beginning to see God at work in those circumstances increasingly in my life.  

 
I heard it said by Charles Stanley on several occasions that when circumstances become difficult, he has learned to pray, "God what are you up to?"  I am learning that truth in my life, he really is at work in those situations.  

 
So, what is he up to in your life? What is he wanting to teach you through the circumstances you find yourself living in? We can be assured that he is at work, and he is up to something. We can also be assured that when we leave everything in God's hands, we begin to see more of God's hand in everything. 

 
I am so thankful that I can leave everything in his capable and powerful hands! Aren't you? I know he wants what is best for me and has a plan for my life.  

 
 

Lord help me to see your hands, you at work in everything! 

 
 

What is most important to you?

 What is most important to you? 

When I answer this question on the surface I begin with a predictable list of priorities of faith in Christ, my family, my church etc. But when I dig a little deeper, I might need to adjust that list or least question how important some things are really?  

The greatest philosopher and theologian I have ever met, my precious grandmother used to say, “Billy, you make time for what is really important to you.” The older I get the more I realize the truth in this statement.  

I can say exercise and diet are important to me, but if do not commit time and effort to those things I show by my actions how important it really is in my life. 

I can say my faith is important, but I spend little to know time in prayer, in reading the Bible, in practicing my faith I must ask how important is it really to me? 

I can say the church is important, but if fail to give, attend, exercise my spiritual gifts, am not a part of a small group, what does my actions say about the place the church really has in my life. 

As we move toward Easter, it is good to think about what our activities and actions say about what is important in life? I want to invite you to join me in reflecting on my grandmother’s question and how a relationship with Christ impacts how we live our life. 

Or simply how the scripture puts it, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). 

What is most important in your life? 

You did it to me

“You did it to me” 

 

I have been reminded this week of the power of simply giving care and meeting a need of someone.  It is powerful when we show with our actions as well as our words that we care about others.  

 

The story was told about St. Teresa of Calcutta. She was once asked by a gentleman about the source of her spirituality and mission. At the end of their conversation, she asked him to spread his hand out on the table. Touching his fingers one by one as she spoke the words, she said, “You did it to me.” 

That is how Jesus said it in Matthew 25:35-36, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me” (NASB). 

On that day of judgement, the followers of Christ will say, “Lord when did we see You...” 

His response will be, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40, NASB).