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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The Word That Lasts Part 1 - Martin Wiles

I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain. Matthew 5:18 NLT

“Do we have to read the genealogical records, too?”

Daily devotional readings were common in my childhood home. And not from a Bible storybook. Our readings came straight from the Bible. I loved them, but I hated knowing the next night’s reading would be nothing but the descendants of so and so. Evidently, my mother didn’t enjoy them either. When she huffed and said to my dad, “Do we have to read that,” he always answered, “Yes.” Whether it bored us or not, every part of God’s Word was important.

Jesus was of the same mindset as good ole Dad. Though only the Old Testament had been written in His time, every portion was significant. I’ve learned a few things about the Bible.

Our opinion of God’s Word doesn’t matter. My father didn’t care whether or not I wanted to hear genealogical lists. I listened because he made the rules, put a roof over my head, and fed me. And sitting through nightly Bible readings was one of his rules. God didn’t consult me when He made His rules and gave the commands. They are for our spiritual, physical, and emotional good—whether we think so or not. And God holds us accountable for obeying them even if we disagree.

Our opinion of God’s Word affects our lifestyle. If we believe it’s God’s Word for us, we’ll obey and teach others to obey. But if we disregard it as nothing more than myths, fables, folktales, and great literature, we’ll adhere to its teachings if it suits us but neglect them if it doesn’t.

A low opinion of God’s Word leads to a low opinion of sin and a reckless lifestyle. What we think about sin affects how we live. If we redefine sin as a mistake, slip-up, or human error, we won’t beat ourselves too much when committing one. We also won’t worry too much about whether our lifestyles match what God says it should be.

A high opinion of God’s Word changes our opinion of sin and leads to a spiritually healthy lifestyle. Jesus said if we loved Him, we would obey His commands. His commands involve what we shouldn’t do or think. Sin. When we choose not to practice sin, we’ll live the abundant life He offers.

What effect is God’s Word having on your life?

Father, may I view the Bible as Your Word to me. 

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Morning by Morning - Martin Wiles

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 NLT

I come from a family of morning lovers.

My paternal grandfather was a morning man. He had to be. His job demanded it. He delivered milk to people’s homes in bottles. People wanted their milk when they got up in the morning. If it wasn’t there, they would complain or take their business elsewhere.

My maternal grandfather also loved the morning, but not because his job required it. He was a farmer and could have gotten up any time he chose, but he got up early to enjoy nature. With a cigarette in hand, he retired to the front porch, listened to the birds, and waited for the sun to top the tops of the tall pines across the field. It was his morning tradition.

Dad also rose early. But for a different reason than his dad. Morning was his time to pray and read the Bible. It was a tradition he maintained until he died. And for many years, I followed suit. When my children were small, morning was the only quiet time around the house—except for later in the evening. Evening didn’t work for me. My mind shuts down after dark.

The psalmist was a morning person. He had no alarm clock to awaken him, but he rose early and took his requests to the Lord.

While God doesn’t dictate morning as the time we must come to Him, He does have a lot to say through those who followed Him about the advantages of coming to Him in the morning. Jesus Himself did.

Our minds are fresher in the morning. I may still be sleepy, but the clutter of the day hasn’t cluttered my mind yet. Some function better at night, but the advantages of the morning are weighty. Quiet reigns, which allows me to focus.

When I approach God in the morning, the day is before me. I’ve not made any mistakes or decisions yet. The potential, however, is there. What day doesn’t involve decisions, temptations, or potential mistakes? Coming to God in the morning allows me to petition Him for guidance, strength, and wisdom.

Regardless of what time I come before God, coming consistently is important. Just as regular communication with others stabilizes friendships, so spending time each day with God cements our relationship with Him.

Morning by morning—or whenever is good for you—spend time with God.

Prayer: Father, draw us to You daily to receive the spiritual nourishment needed to face each day. 

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Take a Seat - Martin Wiles

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. Luke 10:39 NLT

If he had been able to talk, he may have asked, “Can I sit on your foot?”

The highlight of my younger years was staying with my paternal grandparents during the summer. My grandfather was an ice cream delivery man, and I spent the entire summer helping him. Most of his stops were mom-and-pop shops located in small rural towns and scattered throughout country lanes.

One, in particular, was unique. When I asked my grandfather what the name of the store was, he said, “The store where the dog sits on your foot.” And he did. As soon people entered the front door, he made his way over to greet them. If they stood still long enough, he sat on one of their feet.

I found it difficult to break away and help my grandfather stock the ice cream. I wanted to stay in one spot and enjoy the dog sitting on my foot. I often wondered what made him do this. It didn’t appear to be a trick his owners had taught him. Perhaps it was his way of saying thanks to customers for giving his owners the business.

Maybe it was for Mary too. She and her siblings’ home was a favorite stopping place for Jesus and His disciples. As Martha hurried about, preparing a meal to serve Jesus and His friends, Mary sat at His feet and listened to Him talk and teach. When Martha complained to Jesus about her sister’s laziness, Jesus told her Mary had chosen the most important thing.

Silence and meditation are hard to come by in our busy world, but both are necessary if I’m to sit at Jesus’ feet. Crowds thronged Him, but He took time to get away with His heavenly Father. If it was important to Him, it should be to me. When He says to be still and know He is God, He means it. Noise and busyness will drown out His Spirit speaking to my spirit. I need reassurance that He and I are on good terms. I need to feel His unconditional love. I need direction for my life. And I need renewed energy to obey His commands. I need to sit at His feet.

Silence and meditation won’t automatically happen. Make it a priority to make them a priority in your life so you won’t miss God’s best.

Prayer: Father, we crave to be closer to You so we can enjoy Your plan for our lives. 

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Throwback Tuesday - You Can Run - Martin Wiles

You Can Run…

“You can run, but you can’t hide.” 

Maybe it was the seeker saying it to the hiders. Or the policeman to the fleeing criminal. But it was definitely God saying it to me when I wasn’t going in his desired direction.

At twelve years of age, I knew God wanted me to preach. I didn’t know how it would all materialize, but the call was certain. Then I was willing to accept the challenge, but the pressure of my teen and young adult years pulled me in another direction. Like Jonah, I learned I could run, but I couldn’t hide. Read more...

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Getting Close - Martin Wiles

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 NLT

Relationships are built. Love too. But love takes a lifetime.

She worked one office over from me. Little did I know she was on the way out of a decade-long abusive relationship. When I discovered she would soon be available, I began planning how I would woo her. As it turned out, I didn’t have to do much wooing—she took care of it. She baked goodies for me—ones she was trying to sell to raise enough money for her down payment on a necessary surgery. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—and she marched right on in.

Less than two years later, we were married. That was almost eleven years ago, and I love her more today than I did then. She is my best friend, my supporter, and my greatest cheerleader. Where I go, she goes, and where she goes, I follow. We are still working on getting closer and building our love.

According to the psalmist, God is only a whisper away from those who call on Him. We must come by way of confession and repentance initially, but thereafter He wants to be involved in every detail of our lives. And will if we’ll ask.

Building a love relationship with God takes a lifetime—just as it is with my wife and any other important person in my life. If I take the relationship for granted, it will turn sour, lose its vibrancy, and eventually grow cold. As I nurture my relationship with my wife, so I must do the same with the connection I have with God.

Talking to God is essential. If I never talked to my wife, things would go south in short order. Pray without ceasing was the apostle Paul’s advice. God is with me all the time; I just need to be aware of His presence, ask His advice, and seek His direction.

Occasionally, I’ll write my wife a love poem. She loves them, and I always get a big hug and sloppy kiss. God also wrote a love letter He wants me to be intensely familiar with. Time in His Word is vital in building a love relationship with Him. His Word instructs, warns, encourages, and comforts. All things a love letter should accomplish.

God wants to get close to You; He’s merely waiting for the invitation.

Prayer: Father, draw us closer to You each day, and as You do may we revel in the love relationship we are building with You. 

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God’s Resume - Martin Wiles

You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved. Psalm 104:5 NLT

Without one, getting a job is almost impossible.

Over time, my resume has grown from just a few sentences to several pages. Thanks to layoffs and better opportunities, my list of work experiences increased. So did my education. Also included were things I did that I wasn’t paid for. Important just the same. And of course, I have references who will verify my character and work history. My resume tells a lot about who I am, what I’ve done, and what my aspirations and skills are.

Reading it, however, wouldn’t tell you everything about me. Each employer or prospective employer asked me questions my resume didn’t answer. I’ve had to elaborate on what my duties were at previous places of employment, explain gaps in my work experience, and clarify why I left places of employment. My resume is a capsule of my life history.

God, too, has chosen to give humanity a resume. I became familiar with it at a young age as I began to notice the world around me. As I got older, I considered that chance couldn’t explain everything I saw. The laws of nature functioned in an orderly manner—not haphazardly. I marveled at the expanse of the universe and the beauty of the nature around me.

And people. Gomer Pyle, from the Andy Griffith sitcom, said it best: “People sure are odd.” Myself included. But they are odd in a nice way. All different. All talented and gifted. Surely not mere fate that we happen to be who we are, living on a planet that is just far enough from the sun so we won’t burn up and just close enough so we don’t freeze.

If nature and people weren’t enough to point me to God, He decided to write His resume in what became known as the Bible. I saw and heard about that resume at an early age. I listened to Bible stories before I could read, and I read the Bible myself as soon as I could. His resume told me about His unconditional love, the sacrifice of His Son, and His offer to give salvation to any who would repent of their sins.

God’s resume is humbling and thought-provoking. If you haven’t read it, check it out. It may just change your life.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your resume that shares all we need to know about You. 

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