Rehearsing God’s Word - Martin Wiles

Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Deuteronomy 6:7 NLT

Rehearsed materials tend to stay around longer. For the final two weeks of school, I required my middle school language arts students to rehearse what they had learned during the year. The final exam would cover the entire book, so I wanted to ensure they remembered all the concepts. As we encountered new ideas along the way, I reminded them of concepts we had already learned. By rehearsing material from previous chapters, they had a better chance of transferring that material from their short-term to their long-term memory. The grades revealed that some should have rehearsed a little more.

Rehearsing is essential with much of what we do. Those who plan to sing at church rehearse. Professional singers rehearse. Playing sports requires rehearsing before games.

Rehearsing is also a part of our Christian experience. God told the ancient Israelites to rehearse his commands. Not only were they to know them personally, but they were also to teach them to their children by rehearsing them daily in every situation. Rehearsing would lead to remembering.

Rehearsing God’s Word is essential and commanded by God, but we still have to choose to do it. God won’t force us to learn his Word. As a child, I was required to memorize various Bible verses, along with the books of the Bible. Children in my father’s church practiced sword drills, which entailed a contest to see who could locate a book of the Bible quicker. But as an adult, the choice is mine.

Rehearsing God’s Word forces us to meditate on it. What is on our minds, we will think about often. God will bring his Word to our conscience when it is embedded in our memory. This is beneficial when we’re tempted. God’s Word reminds us of his requirements and his ability to help us fend off my archenemy.

Rehearsing God’s Word also aids when we’re questioned about what we believe and why. When his Word infiltrates our hearts, we’ll be prepared to give an answer to the curious and to the skeptics.

Don’t let anything keep you from rehearsing God’s Word.

Father, thank you for your Word that calms my fears, lifts my spirits, and strengthens me for any circumstances I might face. 

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Book of Books - 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. It exposes us for what we really are. Hebrews 4:12 NLT

No book exists forever … except one.

Collecting old books is a hobby I treasure. I have amassed hundreds of books dating from the 1800’s. One I happened upon was dated 1821. For its age, the book remained in excellent condition. The inside page noted a Charleston, South Carolina, library had housed it. I quickly grabbed it, took it to the register, and gave them two dollars. But despite its condition, one day, it too will deteriorate.

Only one book will last forever, and the writer of Hebrews tells why. The Bible is living--not bound by covers that will fade, crumble, separate from pages, and finally dissolve or be tossed away. No material that books are made from is indestructible—the Bible included. But God’s Word won’t disappear because the covers and pages deteriorate.

God's Word Is a Person

The Word of God is more than covers and paper. It is a person. John wrote, “In the beginning, the Word already existed” (John 1:1). God gave his Word to writers, but it existed before then and will continue to exist even if all Bibles are destroyed.

God's Spirit Preserves His Word

God’s life-giving Spirit preserves his Word, and he is more powerful than any force imaginable. The Word is sharper than the sharpest knife, slicing deep into our innermost beings to expose our true selves so that we might compare our current state with what God wants. When God reveals the gap, we can petition him for guidance to bridge the chasm.

God's Word Is Meant to Be Handled

I shelve my old books. Some I wrap in cellophane. Rarely do I read any of them. Turning the pages would only hasten their demise. Not so with God’s Word. God wants us to handle, digest, and experience it.

Let God’s eternal Word shape your actions and attitudes.

Father, enable your Word to become alive in my life.

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In the Fog - Anita van der Elst

And the glory of the LORD settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud. Exodus 24:16 NLT 

A line in a novel sparked my thoughts. A character remarked, “A fog of books sounds like a very good problem to have.”

Whether driving through fog patches, being unable to discern clearly what lies ahead, or feeling like my mind is foggy as I try to concentrate on serious concepts, I never saw fog as beneficial. But then, thoughts of how God expressed himself through the cloud on Mount Sinai and later in the Temple arose. I remembered that clouds are similar to fog because they are both formed of water vapor. Jesus referred to the living water he would give anyone who believes in him. The Word of God refreshes like cool water from a bubbling spring.

Indeed, I cannot see through the fog or the cloud. But when I allow myself to be enveloped by God’s Spirit, like Moses on Mount Sinai, when I peruse God's words written down in the Bible, that great “fog of books,” and rely on him to counsel me on my steps, I experience refreshing comfort. Through that screen of spiritual condensation, the Lord protects me from seeing what could frighten me. He drenches me with ample opportunity to trust in him as I move along step by step.  

Avail yourself of the refreshing condensation of God's Word. Take a step into the cloud of his presence today.

Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to three of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, exploring the state parks in the PNW, facilitating a small group of women, and participating in a Bible study. 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are a grandparent or just want to hear grandparent stories, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Tasting - Lynne Phipps

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV

My granddaughters enjoy baking. As they age, I am teaching them how to read and follow a recipe.  They need to understand what ingredients to use, how to read the measurements, and how to follow the mixing method. Knowing and setting the oven temperature and time is vital, as is choosing the right container or tray to use for baking.

As we prepare and bake the recipe, the girls comment on how good it smells. However, we only prove its goodness when we taste it. Unfortunately, two out of three of us are disaccharide intolerant. This means we can understand, follow, and complete a recipe, but tasting it is out of bounds if the product contains double sugar called sucrose. 

Just as one granddaughter and I have to miss out on this final tasting step, when it comes to baking, we believers can also miss out on tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.  Perhaps we have followed God’s recipe for salvation by believing and accepting Christ into our lives. Maybe we are regular church attendees. Reading our Bibles and attending Bible studies or prayer meetings may also be spiritual habits. 

Nevertheless, if we miss the vital step of trusting God and his Word enough to taste it by putting it into daily practice, we may only taste the Lord’s true goodness irregularly. We may know God’s Word by memory. We may even enjoy reading it. But it is only in the practical application that we taste the truth, goodness, and wisdom within it.

Although we may follow it and put it into practice, some questions arise--questions I ask myself. How often do we worry? Do we trust God enough to tithe and give generously above tithing? Do we talk to the person who has wronged us or instead talk about them? Do we do good to those who wrong us or only to those who do good to us? Do we unwittingly choose to only trust and put into practice certain spiritual teachings?

These are only a few of the questions we can ask ourselves. But in light of them, we must reconsider how much we taste and see the Lord’s goodness.

How about you? Think of some areas in which you might need to taste a little more of God’s goodness by putting all of his Word into practical action?

Father God, thank you that as I apply the truth of your Word to my life, I can taste and know how good you are all the time. In Christ’s name, 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.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Truth That Never Changes - 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. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

I don’t remember whether Mom and Dad explained the importance of what I watched on television, but I remember watching with great interest.

Just shy of nine years old, I sat in the den of our church-owned home and stared at a small black-and-white television. The date was July 1960, and American Neil Armstrong was about to become the first man to set foot on the moon.

Although I didn’t know it then, I discovered later that many Americans didn’t believe anyone was on the moon. I suppose they still thought a space machine couldn’t be launched from earth and land on the moon—much less that someone could walk on it. Despite evidence to the contrary, some wouldn’t believe it.

In giving instructions to a young minister, Paul reminded Timothy about the nature of God’s Word. He, too, would encounter some who would not believe its message despite evidence to the contrary.

Almost two thousand years of history haven’t changed anything. Opinions about the Bible vary. Some believe every word in it is truth, while others think nothing in it is true. Many are in the middle. They believe it records truth when it addresses faith and some historical matters but have no confidence in it when it speaks of scientific things. For them, it’s mostly a collection of myths, legends, and fairy tales.

Regarding God’s Word, we have only two choices: complete truth or not truth at all. If we can’t trust what it says about scientific and historical matters, how can we be sure it speaks truth when it addresses faith matters?

Accepting God’s Word is an act of faith, just like our belief in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior. We must believe God breathed the words and that those words show the way He wants us to live, think, and speak. Measuring our actions and attitudes based on the Bible’s teachings shows where we need to make changes. Believing its teachings and promises and watching them fulfilled in our lives reinforces its validity. What we think about God’s Word will show up in our lifestyle.

Think about what you think about the Bible.

Father, give me the courage to take a leap of faith and believe the Bible is your true Word. 

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Loving the Book - Martin Wiles

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. Matthew 5:18 NLT

One of my books is 203 years old.

I grew up in a literate home with parents who taught me to appreciate the value of a good book and demonstrated their teaching by example. Books lay everywhere in our home. 

Another of my prized possessions is my collection of Hardy Boys books, which I owned as a middle schooler. I loved reading about their adventures. I also collect them when I can find them at thrift stores. 

Back in my childhood days, technology had not introduced eBooks, so all books came in paperback and hardback form. I don’t remember Mom having many books. She was more of a magazine lady. 

But Dad … well … he owned books, and since he was a preacher, he had many books: commentaries, Bibles, and Christian living. And the longer he preached, the more his collection grew—a collection Mom passed along to me after he died.

For a time during high school and for a few years thereafter, I lost my passion for books. But when I started college, my desire returned, and I began my own collection--a compilation that has grown and changed over the years as I have donated and given away books.

Around middle age, I began collecting pre-1940 books. Since I’m a lover of all things old, collecting old books seemed to fit my personality. Every time my wife and I visited a thrift store, I scanned the bookshelves for old books. I learned to pick them out with just a glance. Soon, they lined the shelves of my bookcases, and I found myself looking for space to put my not-so-old books.

My most prized book also came from a thrift store. I remember pulling it from the shelf and opening the front cover to find the copyright date. Before seeing it, I saw a sticker on the inside cover, stating the book had once belonged to a library in Charleston, South Carolina. No wonder the book was in such good shape. But the copyright date excited me more: 1821.

Loving history, I sometimes think of all the world events that have occurred since this book was published. To keep it in pristine shape, I covered it with plastic wrap.

No dust particles will spoil my antique book, but time will. Eventually, my prized book will deteriorate, or someone will throw it away—perhaps one of my children who might not appreciate old books. In fact, that same thing will happen to my entire book collection.

But according to Jesus, that will never happen to His Word, even if every Bible were somehow destroyed. Jesus is the Word and will remain should every written copy of God’s Word deteriorate or be destroyed by some other means.

Dad read the Bible to our family when my brothers and I were young boys. When I got old enough, he told me I needed to read it for myself. He also taught me it contained truth—absolute truth. That’s comforting to know, especially in a world that has trouble believing absolute truth even exists. 

What God said was right in the beginning is still right, and what He pronounced wrong is still wrong. Whether I live in America, Africa, Russia, or wherever. And whether it’s the twenty-first century or the twenty-eight century. Truth I can hang my hat on. The truth that will guide me through life and provide me more wisdom than any of my old books can ever hope to do.

Truth that gives me hope that this world is not hopelessly spiraling out of control, but has a sovereign Creator controlling it. Truth that guides me to forgiveness. And truth that leads me to eternal life with a God who loves me more than life itself. Now, that’s a book worth reading and basing my life around.

I’m the proud owner of many of my dad’s Bibles. I also have some of my grandparents’ Bibles--even one that belonged to a great-grandmother. Most are in well-worn shape. 

I know one day they’ll disappear from my family’s possession. They’ll deteriorate beyond repair. A relative won’t appreciate them anymore or know whom they belonged to. They might find themselves in a bin at a thrift store or perched on a shelf. But no matter what happens to them—or any of our Bibles—God’s Word remains in our hearts if we let it.

Of all the books you may own, let God’s Word be the most essential.

Father, prompt me to build my life on the most important book in the world: Your Word. 

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Food for the Soul - Karen Huffaker

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NKJV

Before we left the breakfast table, my grandson asked, “Mom, what are we having for lunch?” This didn’t surprise me. After lunch and throughout the afternoon, he inquired about dinner until he had satisfactory answers about meals for the day. Doing this is a family ritual we’re familiar with and smile about. He anticipates good food—or negotiating a change in menu.

Food is not just necessary; it’s a huge industry and a great pastime. We spend enormous time planning, shopping, cooking, and collecting and sharing recipes. There are celebrations, feasts, and holiday fare. Vacations highlight new cuisines, teach gourmet skills, and test new restaurants. Food provides a wonderful social platform.

The Bible says to eat, drink, and be merry. So we do.

Jesus told Satan that we don’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth. After fasting for forty days in the mountains near Jericho, Jesus was tempted by Satan three times. But each time, Jesus responded with scripture to confirm that we should obey God’s Word.

Reading God’s Word feeds us and fills us spiritually. It guides us into wisdom, warns us, and teaches us about God’s ways and will. It comforts and warms our hearts. Most importantly, it explains how we find eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

My personal Bible study time constantly feeds and uplifts me. The Holy Spirit counsels and guides me and knows what I need then.

Seek the kind of food that only God gives in His Word, and trust that you will be filled and nourished in every way.

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Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 

 

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God’s in Tune - Martin Wiles

The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat. Judges 7:13 NLT

When I was growing up, radios were quite different from what they are today. The digital world—not to mention satellites—changed everything. Now, I punch the scan button, and the radio automatically advances to the next clear station. Or, I can even choose satellite radio.

For many years, I had to tune a radio to a particular station manually. Stations would advertise their call numbers. Finding it required turning a knob, so it advanced to those numbers. Although I saw the numbers displayed on the dial, they were in separate increments. I knew when I was close, but I could only know I had arrived once I heard a station. Even then, I couldn’t be sure it was the right one until I listened to the announcer announce the call numbers. Delicately turning the knob was necessary to arrive at just the right station.

Digital numbers make it easy to know I’ve tuned in to the correct station. Knowing I’m tuned into God’s plan is nice as well. Gideon needed to know he was. He was sure God had instructed him to defeat Israel’s enemies, the Midianites. When God instructed him to do it with only three hundred warriors, he was concerned he might have tuned in to the wrong station. But trekking into the enemy’s camp one night and hearing a dream about a loaf of bread convinced him he had the right station. God was dialed into his dilemma.

Knowing God has good plans for us and is dialed into our concerns makes life easier and more peaceful. Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit that God says should hang from our life’s trees. Yet, it’s not a peace only experienced when circumstances are in our favor. This peace hangs around when things are going our way and when they’re not. Gideon uncovered it when he heard a dream.

We can live with confidence and peace when we remember God knows our needs. Nothing escapes him, and he often gives us little clues—as he did Gideon--that he’s aware of our circumstances.

Like a digital radio, we can tune directly to God, and we’ll hear loud and clear that he knows all about our plight and is ready to speak peace and wisdom into our situations.

Father, thank you for being attentive to my needs, whether large or small. 

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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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The Word That Lasts Part 2 - Martin Wiles

Anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19 NLT

Doing it is a lifetime habit I don’t intend to break.

I’ve been reading the Bible daily since I was a small tike. I suppose my family instilled in me the importance of doing so. With rare exceptions, we had daily Bible readings. I can remember as an elementary-age child, sitting on the top bunk with my Bible in hand. I didn’t always understand it—in part because of the translation I was using—but Dad was glad to explain the words I couldn’t define. Memorizing it was also a part of my young life. The church my father pastored encouraged children to participate in sword drills and other Bible memorization exercises. Even during my periods of rebellion, I still read God’s Word daily. I still do.

Jesus said obeying God’s Word was important. I’ve found that to be true.

Disregarding God’s Word will lead to leaving God out of daily affairs.

God wants to be involved in every detail of our lives—the small and the large, the important and the not-so important. He wants to give wisdom for the decisions we make and guidance that will see us successfully through life. When we don’t meditate on His Word, we’ll easily forget that God is right beside us during our life’s journey.

God’s Word is more than the Bible itself.

We don’t worship the book—even though all parts of it are true and crucial to believe. Nor do we worship a particular translation. We worship the one the Book points to, and we can use various translations to help us better understand what God says. Loving Him is the greatest commandment. When we do, we’ll obey His commands by fleshing them out in our actions.

Spiritual maturity is built on a lifetime of studying God’s Word.

Surveys continue to demonstrate the lack of discipleship among believers. At one time, I was there myself. Though I’ve grown, I still have a long way to travel. God’s Word gives us the beliefs we need, and His Spirit gives us the power to put them into practice.

How can you spend more time in God’s Word and see the difference it will make.

Father, may I always see the importance of Your Word in my life. 

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