The Hunt for Truth - Lynne Phipps

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Easter morning is always an exciting and bustling time within our household as my granddaughters search for Easter eggs. These goodies have been cleverly hidden by their parents, and the girls must search diligently to find them. What happiness ensues when all have been discovered, and their Easter baskets are overflowing with yummy treats. But the hunt for truth should bring even more excitement. 

Searching for Easter eggs brought to mind the treats of truth and wisdom God has hidden for us within his Word. The Scriptures hold the secrets of life. They reveal who God is and how we may come into a relationship with him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. They teach us how to deal with any situation life can throw at us. We learn how to praise God and the best way to treat our enemies. 

God’s Word has the power to correct our behavior and convict us of wrong thoughts and actions. It can restore us spiritually and emotionally. The Scripture makes the simple wise and promotes hope and joy. It prepares us for the future and relieves us of the burdens of our past. Indeed, within God’s Word are found treasures beyond compare.

Like hunting for hidden Easter eggs, however, we too must be prepared to hunt for these gems of truth within the Scriptures. We must be willing to ask God for a hunger in our hearts for his Word as well as guidance as we read it. We must be persistent in searching the Word for new truths that we may have missed. Some, we may not have been mature enough to see or understand at a previous time. We must also be tenacious in seeking enlightenment regarding how to apply these precious truths to our everyday lives.

When the girls hunt for their eggs, they are rewarded for finding them. They gather them and eventually pop them into their mouths to enjoy the tasty morsels. Likewise, when we seek, ask, and knock to discover the truths in God’s Word, we too are blessed as we discover, embrace, and taste their goodness by putting them into practice and seeing that they are good.

Make sure your hunt for truth takes you to God’s Word daily. 

Father God, thank you for your precious Word. Encourage and motivate me to hunger for its truths.  Strengthen me to be tenacious when asking, seeking, and knocking. Grant me enlightenment, wisdom, correction, and teaching through them, so that I might live a good and productive life. Help my life to be a witness of your lovingkindness and mercy to all those around me. In Christ’s name I pray, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God.

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Finding Peace - Martin Wiles

And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50 NLT

For me, finding peace means heading for the hills.

Regardless of how taxing my dilemmas, I can always re-focus when I view the mountains—up close and in person. Every motel in Maggie Valley, NC, has riverfront rooms, since a river runs down the main street.

The room our family stayed in on one occasion wasn’t extraordinary, yet it was. A screen door shielded the back door, and the temp was cool enough for us to open the back door and listen to the roaring creek. This we topped off by sitting on the cozy porch and enjoying the sounds and views. The following day, I took my computer to the porch and sat on one of the wooden rockers while I penned my morning devotion. I found peace. Trouble was, though, I couldn’t stay there.

The sinful woman couldn’t remain in her location either, but she found a peace she could carry away with her. Somehow, this immoral woman found her way into a religious snob’s party. Jesus happened to be there, and she immediately zeroed in on Him. In fact, He was why she was there in the first place. Her tears tumbled on His feet, she wiped them with her hair, and then she anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume. Luke doesn’t tell us she asked for forgiveness—she didn’t have to. Her actions showed she wanted it, and Jesus granted it. She could leave in peace.

Although I can renew my peace in the mountains, I can’t discover it there—unless it happens to be where I meet Jesus. Meeting Him is the key for peace. Only as we do what the sinful woman did can we find peace that won’t fluctuate with life’s situations. She recognized her sinfulness and went to the person who could solve her problem and soothe her soul. The peace Jesus offered was connected to the forgiveness she desired.

Knowing all of our sins were taken care of at the cross allows us to live in a state of continual peace—regardless of our circumstances. We don’t have to worry about judgment or condemnation. Jesus took that in our behalf. What the Father placed on Him, He won’t judge us for. Nor will He allow us to endure more than we can handle with His power.

Find your peace in Christ and nothing else.

Father, thank You for the peace that comes from knowing You accept, forgive, and love me. 

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The Word That Lasts Part 3 - Martin Wiles

For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 NLT

Like my parents before me, I attempted to instill in my children a love for God’s Word. Our nightly devotions weren’t as regular as when I was growing up. Life was hectic and busy at the time. Fitting in a nightly devotion was a challenge, but we read Bible stories often.

I carried on the same tradition with my firstborn grandson. Obviously, the need to digest God’s Word stuck despite my less-than-best efforts. Like me, my daughter and son both had their periods of rebellion. Both stopped attending church and involved themselves in questionable activities. Despite their wanderings, they still knew God’s Word and the right path—whether or not they chose it. 

Some question the validity of God’s Word.

They discount the traditionally agreed-upon authors, the miracles, the scientific and historical accounts, and even Jesus’ divinity. Rather than avoiding discussions with those who doubt, we can use the occasion to share our faith and why we believe God’s Word is profitable and accurate.

Some use God’s Word to teach legalism.

In addition to moral laws, the Old Testament contains ceremonial and civil laws. Both related to the nation of Israel and God’s interaction with the Jewish people. Some attempt to bind us by what Christ has freed us from. Grace brings liberty. Legalism majors on the things we can’t do rather than on the things we can do because of our newfound liberty in Christ. It repeats the mistakes Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for. We’re bound only by the moral laws the New Testament reiterates. We don’t have to keep bringing the old sacrifices.

God’s Word has the power to change lives.

Believing it changed me from a condemned sinner to a forgiven sinner. By reading it, we learn doctrine—the “whats” we need to believe as Christ's followers. We’re encouraged by the promises and corrected by the commandments. Like a knife, God’s Word slices into our consciousness. God’s Spirit then gives us the power to make the necessary changes.

Is God’s Word having a lasting effect on your life?

Father, turn me toward Your Word so I can follow Your path with joy and confidence. 

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Frequent Flyer - Martin Wiles

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 NLT

“If I were gone for six weeks, you would forget about me.”

An older deacon in the first church I pastored said it, and I believed it. Our church was small, nestled in a rural community, and rarely had visitors. Since the health of the church depended on the people who were current members, it was essential to keep them happy. Part of that was ensuring someone contacted them if they were out. Although most of the congregation was related, it was easy to overlook those absent. Before we knew it, we would say, “You know what, I haven’t seen so and so in three weeks.”

While encouraging others to be frequent flyers at church is important, another frequent flyer program is even more essential: visiting God’s Word. As Joshua received his commission to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land, God assured him He would be with him. But He also cautioned him to visit His Word often. He was to study and meditate on it day and night. Only then would he would be successful.

As airlines offer frequent flyer rewards, God extends returns to those who visit His Word frequently. And as I tend to forget about those I don’t see regularly, the same will happen if I neglect God’s Word.

Visiting God’s Word frequently gives us a base to operate our lives. God’s standards are instilled in our minds and then transferred into our hearts. This, in turn, coats our consciences, which God will work through when the enemy tempts us to violate one of God’s commands.

God’s Word gives us comfort. God didn’t hide the struggles of His people but demonstrated how He could guide them through any experience they might face. Visiting His Word regularly assures us He’ll do the same for everyone.

Frequenting God’s Word often also allows us to incorporate promises we can share with others who need comfort along life’s rocky path. What we don’t visit habitually, we will soon forget. Repetition is the master teacher.

God rewards those who frequent His Word regularly. How can you be a frequent flyer?

Father, instill in me a desire to return to Your Word repeatedly. 

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The Best Book - Martin Wiles

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

Peeling back the covers and smelling the pages gives me a high no drug could match.

Collecting old books is one of my passions—thinking about how many fingers have turned the pages, mulling over how many homes or libraries the book has been in, pondering over how something so fragile has survived for so long.

Along with books on history, literature, reading, grammar, and religion are numerous Bibles. Many belonged to family members; others I’ve accumulated. Bibles with different bindings and of various translations. Some old, others fairly new.

While my Bibles occupy the same shelves with books on other topics, I don’t see them in the same light. The writers of the other books may have been educated and inspired, but they aren’t in the same class as the men who penned the Bible. Paul says they did so under God’s inspiration.

A recent Gallup poll (May, 2017) revealed disturbing results concerning people’s views about the Bible. Only 24% of Americans now believe the Bible is the literal word of God. Almost half still believe it is inspired by God but not that it is the actual word of God or that they should take it literally, word for word. This downward trend began in 1976 and has continued among all age groups—especially those between 18 and 29.

Having a weak view of God’s Word puts me on a slippery slope. If I can’t believe some of it, can I believe any of it? And if I can only believe some of it, how do I know which parts are true and which are legend or fiction?

Personally, I’d rather not tread on the slippery slope. I prefer to believe what God claims about His word. That it is inspired by the Spirit of God, who makes no errors. That it is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. And that it has the ability to cut to the quick of my soul and point me in the right direction.

Although it wasn’t written as a history or science book, it can be trusted on whatever subject it speaks. Since I base my salvation on how the Bible says I must reconnect to God, it makes sense to trust the rest of the Bible as well.

Don’t fall into the trap of doubting God’s Word. Follow its directives and experience life at the highest level.

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Prayer: Father, thank You for preserving Your Word for us. Give us the faith to trust every word it says. 

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Good Enough for Dad - Martin Wiles

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 NLT

Through the ajar door, I saw his bowed head and heard his soft whispers.

For as long as I can remember, my dad got up at five in the morning and made his way to the study in our home. Here, he said his prayers and read his Bible.

Dad spent at least thirty minutes petitioning and praising God and interceding for his family and others. Interrupting him was a no-no. If I needed to ask him something, I had to wait—sometimes for what seemed like forever. 

His Bibles were always well worn. They folded around the palms of his hands, encircling them like a tight-fitting glove. He had visited every page at some point, searching for what God had to say to him from the Old Testament and then from the New. Rarely did he make a mark in his Bibles, but he knew them from cover to cover.

Dad taught me at an early age the importance of doing the same thing he did. First by having family devotions and then by encouraging me to read my Bible and pray on my own. And the habit stuck. Fifty years later, I’m doing the same thing he did. Even during periods of rebellion, I kept reading my Bible and saying my prayers.

Now I’m teaching the same to my grandchildren. We pray before meals, I read Bible stories to them, and I install Bible apps on my IPad where they can hear Bible stories and play Bible activities.

Jesus taught His disciples by example. He instructed them in a correct interpretation of God’s Word, and showed by example how important it was to live by those same principles. He also modeled a healthy prayer life. They responded by asking Him to teach them to pray—as my Father did me.

Modeling spiritual disciplines for our children and grandchildren helps them understand that God is not a far-off deity who’s unconcerned about their life. He is as close as the next breath they take. He cares about the concerns of their lives and wants to guide them in the best path. He has the answers to life’s most complicated questions, and He is the best friend they could ever hope for.

Teach those closest to you how to love and serve God. Give them an example they can pass down to their children.

Tweetable: What examples are you setting for your children or grandchildren?

Prayer: Father, give us the strength to teach our families by example how important it is to spend time with You. 

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