Tag Archives: Word of God

Devotionals on the Word of God

Today’s Ponderings – Scotty, I need more power!

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Oh the memory of watching Star Trek as a kid and hearing Captain Kirk demand “Scotty, we need more power!” :-)  The Enterprise could not accomplish its task without more power!

How true this is for the lost world.  Our power is not a joke, however.  It is not some science fiction story. Unlike Scotty, Jesus can provide this power and has shown us exactly where to find our power:

~Mark 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Jesus said the Pharisees “erred” because they didn’t know their Bible, which was the power of God! The word “err” is not just making a mistake.  This word actually means so much more when one looks up its meaning in the Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary (this was the dictionary of words used at the time the King James Bible was translated into English in 1611):

1. To wander from the right way; to deviate from the true course or purpose.

But errs not nature from this gracious end, From burning suns when livid deaths descend?

2. To miss the right way, in morals or religion; to deviate from the path or line of duty; to stray by design or mistake.

We have erred and strayed like lost sheep.

(Picture a cartoon man with bulging eyes due to surprise :-))  Jesus said the Pharisees erred because they didn’t know the Scriptures!  Furthermore, He reminded them that this is where they would find the power of God!  As you read the Bible reference again, insert the true definition of the word “err.”  The Pharisees wandered from the right way.  They deviated from the true course.  They missed the whole point of Judaism!  The Jews were given God’s Word (Romans 3:2) and they were responsible for obeying it, teaching it and abiding by it.  (Deuteronomy 11:18-22) They lost this command and wandered away from their path, their line of duty!

This is where our power lies, friend.  It is the Word of God through the King James Bible. Just as God provided the Oracles to one people and entrusted it in their care to pass it on and share with others, so have we been entrusted.  People have fought and died in order to preserve the very words of God – our power lies within the precious pages of our Bible.  It is here that the Christian gets the encouragement, teaching and power to live a Godly life. Is it any wonder we see a decline in moral values?  The world does not want to have anything to do with God’s Word.  It explains why they work so hard to remove prayer and the Ten Commandments from public places – they do not want to be reminded of their own sins.

Even Christians are without power in their own spiritual lives because their daily Bible reading is over in a “microwave minute”! The devil has succeeded in placing over 200 different Bible versions out there so that Christendom has come to believe that the true words of God have been changed so much through the ages that they “really don’t exist in true form.”  This is just not so and is a lie from the pits of hell.  God is able to preserve His Word and has preserved each and every word.  The Scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35) and God is not a liar (Numbers 23:19).  If He says His Word is preserved, He means it. (Psalms 12:6-7)

This is where our power lies – our power unto salvation (Romans 1:16) and power to live Godly lives.  Our Bible reading should not be condensed in a microwave minute but should be enjoyed and savored like a well prepared, seven course meal :-)

Resting in Psalms – Day 8

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~Psalms 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

I’m so thankful that God gave His word for mankind so there would be no question as to how man can be saved! Today’s text explains to us exactly what leads man to salvation. The Ten Commandments, the Law, show us that we are all sinners. Every one of us fall short of keeping all ten commandments. When we realize we are sinners and fall far short of God’s righteousness, we begin to convert our soul. (Romans 3:10)

God’s testimony throughout Scripture reveals to us the only way to the Father in Heaven is through Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, no matter what the world says. Why? Because of Psalm 19:7 – God’s word is perfect and contains truth (John 17:17, Ephesian 1:13). Bible scholars think their much knowledge is correct. However, God gives the believer the ability to understand His word through His Holy Spirit! (1 Corinthians 2:14) I’ve been attacked many times by religious people who consider themselves “learned” and scholars of their religion. They think themselves wise but God is the provider of wisdom – His word is explained to the simple (Psalm 19:7) and makes the simple one wise. One does not need a Bible degree to understand God’s word. God reveals what we need when we need it.

~Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Psalm 19:8 reveals that “fruit that comes with salvation.” God gave us His truth to lead us to Him – He did not want us to be blind. His word enlightens us (Psalm 19:8) and points us to the truth – to Him. I absolutely love the song “Amazing Grace”!  Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see. When we finally see the truth that salvation comes through Jesus Christ and through no other way, we are born again into a new life (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). With that salvation comes wonderful joy – a joy unspeakable and full of glory! :-) The heart rejoices because our burden of sin has been lifted and the debt has been paid in full on the cross by Christ Himself! After salvation, our eyes are opened – we are no longer blinded by the world’s religion but we are now enlightened by God’s pure and holy word through the Holy Spirit!

Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary

Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are lonely and drear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

Chorus
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

Cast your care on Jesus today,
Leave your worry and fear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

Chorus

Troubled soul, the Saviour can see,
Ev’ry heartache and tear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near.

Chorus

The picture above was taken by a sweet Christian lady, Connie Wentworth and used here with her permission. Her pictures are mostly taken in the State of Maine and depict God’s glorious creation! Thank you, Connie, for allowing me this opportunity to use your work!

Thought for the Day – Setting Ourselves Apart

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~2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. ~1 Thessalonians 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 

Sanctified – a setting apart … We are sanctified when we are born again because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. However, every day we should be growing in Christ, as we study and learn from His word. As new Christians, we don’t automatically become spiritually perfect or mature.  Just as a baby is not born as a wise adult, neither are new born babes in Christ!  It takes time – it takes reading the Bible and applying its wisdom to our lives! I love the message God gives us through the life of a butterfly. While in its cocoon, the butterfly struggles to be free. To watch it struggling, one is tempted to help this butterfly along. But in so doing, we deprive that butterfly of the strength it gains during its struggle. Helping it only kills it. So is the Christian. We need the struggles in our Christian walk so we can turn to the Scriptures and allow it to heal us. The more we break free from sin, we become conformed to Christ’s image. We can rid ourselves of the sin that so easily besets us and be set free like the butterfly.

Noah Webster defines sanctification as “The act of making holy.” God commands us to be holy as He is holy.

Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 20:7)

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (1 Peter 1:15)

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16)

I found it interesting that this statement from God is found three times in the Bible. Our Three-in-One God is a holy God. We will never reach a perfected state of holiness in this lifetime but we are to be a constant “work in progress” as we walk the pilgrim’s path on earth. We sanctify ourselves through our daily time spent in God’s word. His word then washes us as we apply its applications to our lives. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26) We can read the Bible faithfully every day – but without applying it to our lives, it is of no value. A police officer can look at body armor all he wants and admire how it can protect his body from bullets. However, the body armor does him no good if he does not put it on for protection.

The word of God is just not for reading, my friend. The Bible convicts the heart of sin. If we do nothing with that conviction, what good is it? The word of God is truth and leads us in the path of becoming more like the Father, thus fulfilling His command to be holy as He is holy.  It can be done! People use their laziness as an excuse to not be separate from the world; but this is not so. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)

Jesus was our perfect example of One who practiced sanctification. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19) As we study the Bible, learn about Jesus and how He lived His life, we learn of His meekness, His faithfulness and His love; afterwards we should apply what we have read to our own lives. We learn how His desire was to seek the Father’s will and not His own. So should we, as children of the Living God, work diligently weeding out sin in our lives. The more we work to be more like Christ, the more sanctified (set apart) we will become. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; (1 Thessalonians 4:4) Emphasis mine. We are to know how to do this. We cannot know without being in God’s word! The more we love Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords, the more we will want to work towards eliminating known sin from our lives.

This is the difference between a Christian who is moving forward in his spiritual walk and one that is at a stand still. Twice Paul spoke of those who were still babes in Christ because they did not get into the meat of the word of God – they were still drinking milk. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Corinthians 3:2) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (Hebrews 5:12) A pool of water that is still (or stagnant), develops scum and the waters become green with algae.  However, water that is kept moving and aerated remains fresh and living creatures can make their home in it.  Remember the pool at Bethesda? (John 5:1-9)  While the waters were still, no one was able to be healed of infirmities. However, when the angel stirred the waters, the first one who went into the waters was healed. No spiritual growth can come out of a stagnant Christian life.  Jesus Christ has the water of life (John 4:14) and your heart must be stirred and renewed before you can make any progress.

My friend, repentance brings forth sanctification. One cannot say he is growing in Christ if he is continuing in the same sin. Are you struggling with a particular sin? Until you have forsaken it, you cannot grow more into the image of Christ. I truly believe that many Christians have become complacent to their sin and are satisfied with living with known sin. They live a life of delusion and they will not be a vessel meet for the Master’s use. What kind of vessel are you today? Are you enjoying a Christian life sanctifying yourself daily so the Master can use you? Or are you satisfied with the way you are now, not interested in setting yourself apart from the world? Only you can answer this and only you can change the answer.

Thought for the Day – No Offense

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~Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 

I have loved this verse for many years now. The Lord first gave it to me when I was going through some very difficult trials in my life. When God would speak to me through the Pastor’s messages, I did not like what I was hearing. I did not want to follow the guidance the man of God was clearly preaching. What he was preaching was too hard for me and I felt that it was too much to bear. Sometimes we look at our trials as a whole and get discouraged. This is what I did. I would look at the big picture, hear the preaching and think to myself that God didn’t know what He was asking me to do! Was I ever wrong!!

When the Lord gave Psalm 119:165 to me, it was as though He had reached down and hugged this child. He spoke to me through His word and said that if I love the Scriptures, nothing in it will cause me to fall or stumble. He would not ask me to do anything that would be bad for me. So, I obeyed the Lord through the preaching and did what was asked. The end result was one of great peace. All the fears I had of what might happen, never happened. I feared the unknown and feared what God would have me to do – all for nothing. The Bible assured me peace if I followed it and it was true!

I pray that you would glean from that testimony and apply it to your own life. I pray that you will see this verse as one that will bring life changing results to you. Let’s look at it and pick it apart this morning. The Greek word for “offend” is

H4383
מכשׁל מכשׁול
mikshôl mikshôl
mik-shole’, mik-shole’
Masculine from H3782; a stumblingblock, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol), scruple): – caused to fall, offence, X [no-] thing offered, ruin, stumbling-block.

Noah Webster also defines the word in the same manner:

6. To disturb, annoy, or cause to fall or stumble. Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119.

What a blessing this is. God’s word will never bring you harm, my friend. You may hear some hard preaching and refuse to apply it to your life because you feel it is too hard or it will create problems. But God’s word says otherwise. The Scriptures are not offensive. He would never give us something that would cause us to stumble – It only promises peace.

You may be thinking that you already know this. But let me ask you this. Have you heard a message recently where the Pastor says “A Christian should not be  _______!” (fill in the blank)? Were you guilty of whatever it was he said you should not do? If you were guilty, did you stop doing it? Or did you shrug it off. If you shrugged it off, you are sinning. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. (Jeremiah 3:15) God’s man has been given to your church to feed you from the Scriptures so you can grow in knowledge and understanding, my friend. The Holy Spirit cannot do a work in you if you are not going to respond to the message God has laid on his heart. The ‘guilty’ feeling you have inside is the Holy Spirit acknowledging that what you have heard is an area that God wants you to work on. When your Pastor brings your name up before God in prayer, is he able to do so with joy or with grief? If it is with grief, the Bible says it is unprofitable to you.

We all have an area in life where we struggle. Why do we think that ours is unique and is just too great to give up? Don’t be angry with the Preacher for preaching God’s word. If you are, Psalm 119:165 cannot be a verse you can claim. Instead, submit to the preaching and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in you. There is nothing that you are experiencing right now that you cannot overcome, my friend. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God promises peace and He gives peace. The only thing we have to do to obtain that peace is to be in His word. How hard is that? D.L. Moody once said, “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” If things are going wrong and you are overwhelmed, look at your Bible life. I have met Christians who are going through tremendous trials but I would never know it. These Christians are in their Bible and applying it to their lives as they glean God’s peace.

Why struggle when you can have that sweet peace that only God can give His children? He waits to give it to you. Why ignore Him? Spending time in the word of God and yielding yourself to it produces that peace. Your trials may not go away but the Lord will give you that peace which is beyond understanding! (Philippians 4:7) These negative people seem to enjoy living this way – constantly defeated. Do you actually enjoy the unrest in your spirit? Do you actually want to continue to live with such a dark cloud over you? Maybe you are the kind of person who loves the attention you get because of it. Believe me, the only attention you are getting is from people who are in the same situation as you are. You are like a person who is drowning – you are looking to others who cannot swim to help you. Instead, you should be looking to others who can provide you with a life preserver!

You can turn yourself around, you know. Sure it will mean setting aside time to read the Bible and study it. Sure it will mean that you will have to apply what you learn and give up those sins that God places on your heart. Sure it will take an effort on your part, but wouldn’t it be worth it? If you’re miserable, Christian, it’s because you choose to be miserable. The sad thing is that you bring down those around you, too. You will have much to account for when you stand before the Lord. Wouldn’t it be easier to submit to God’s word today? Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalm 119:165)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)

LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. (Isaiah 26:12)

Thought for the Day – Stunted Growth

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Psalm 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

I wanted to write about how God uses the Scriptures to bring conviction against sin to us. However, as I read and re-read this verse, it became apparent to me that the Lord used the words “young man (or woman)” here. Why would God use this adjective to describe the man? He could have just used the word man. So why did God interject with the word “young”?

I’ve seen older Christians who have remained “spiritual babes” because they have not spent time in the God’s word. Taking time in the Bible is work but a blessing follows. Some of us work for a living and at the end of the pay period, we receive a check. At the end of our hard work of reading and studying, we also receive a paycheck – a spiritual paycheck. However, our paycheck is inexhaustible and lasts for eternity. Paul spoke about these spiritual babes. 1 Cor. 3:1-2, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” Paul likened the spiritual babes as carnal. They were still more concerned about the things of the flesh than spiritual things. After all, isn’t that what a human baby does? He cries and cries unto he is fed. He is only concerned about his own needs at this point. Not once does this baby consider that Mommy is really tired and could sleep an extra hour if he would just hold off! Paul used the right choice of words here, didn’t he?

As that baby gets older, he becomes a whiner so he can get what he wants. There are Christians who are whiners in every church. They don’t like the way things are going – they don’t like the color of the carpet that was chosen – they think the Pastor preaches to long and keep looking at their watches.

The more we grow in the Lord through His word, the more we become spiritual adults. We no longer have the same struggles we did as younger believers. We have put off the immature spirituality and have made way for the meat of God’s word. We’ve learned to trust more in the Lord; we’ve learned that we can never lose our salvation and we’re sure of it and can prove it from the Scriptures; we’ve learned that God is faithful and won’t abandon us; we’ve received this peace that young Christians and spiritually immature Christians can’t understand. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phi 4:7)

Suffice it to say, however, that just reading the Bible is not sufficient. One has to heed its warnings, as the Psalmist continues to point out. What’s the use in reading a self-help book if you don’t apply what you’ve learned, right? Applying God’s word to our lives is the key to maturing as a believer.

I know I sound like a broken record, but God stresses over and over in His word that we need to be IN the word of God and applying it to our lives! Without it our growth is stunted spiritually. That baby would die without his Mommy feeding him, right? So will the babe in Christ stunt his growth in Christ by not opening his Bible and gleaning from its spiritual nourishment.

There’s a banquet table awaiting the believer who stops to eat!

Thought for the Day – Hiding Words

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Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

God’s word is the only thing in life that comes with a promise such as this. Do you know of anything or anyone who can promise that if you read and hide their product, it will keep you from sin? Nothing can do this. No one can do this, but God! God’s compassion is so great that He provided His very own words to strengthen us in time of weakness.

Not only did our Heavenly Father give us the Scriptures to grow by so that we wouldn’t sin, but He also provided His words so that we could be cleansed should we fall into sin. BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psa 119:9) The word of God will cleanse us and keep us from sin. That is what taking heed means – God’s word leads us to salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!

So why don’t we spend more time in the Bible? I believe that ole slew foot has managed to keep the Christian today from the Word by way of distractions and excuses. This cartoon is an extremely poignant one which applies exactly to my point. Today’s distractions are so many! Everyone has them. If you’re not reading your Bible daily and gleaning from it, then you have too many distractions and you will continuously struggle with sin.

The fact of the matter is this: the believer who does not read the word of God is plain lazy. Would you deprive your family from nourishment? Would you deprive yourself? Of course not! When you are not gleaning from God’s word, you not only allow sin to come into your life, but you cause sin to come into your home. Your children will see it and will follow in your footsteps. So when you do fall into temptation and sin, you have no one to blame but yourself. It isn’t God’s fault, but your own. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:9) If we fall, we fall because we choose to fall.

The more you spend time in the Word, the less time you will have to devote to sin.

Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Thought for the Day – Settled

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LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

Psalm 119:89 says that God’s word is for ever settled in heaven! The meaning of for ever according to Noah Webster is:

At any time; at any period or point of time, past or future.

God’s word was settled in the past and it is settled in the future. We cannot change it because it is settled. Period! And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev 22:19)

God’s word was, is and continues to be settled in heaven. God never changes – He’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Since He never changes and Jesus is the Word according to John 1:1-2, and the word is settled in heaven, then we must believe that there cannot be 100+ different versions of the word of God out there. That is why it is so important to believe that God would preserve His word. Each letter of the word is so important that there’s not one thing contained in it which will go unnoticed. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Mat 5:18) Why would God consider every little jot and tittle of the word? Because His word is settled. It cannot change. It will not change.

Beware of false imitations out there. Satan would love nothing better than to de-throne Christ. That has been his goal from the beginning. Isaiah. 14:12-14, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (12) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (13) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (14) If he can remove Christ from the different versions of the Bible out there, then people will believe that Allah, Buddha, and yes Lucifer himself is god and he will take as many souls as he can with him to hell.

Why are you so easily deceived that any version is OK to read. Would you follow a child’s drawing of a map to go to Orlando, Florida without questioning its accuracy? Why, then, are you so quick to read a version of the Bible which has been derived from Alexandrian texts? Were we not commanded to come out of Egypt, a type of the world? Why would our God contradict Himself by sending His most precious word, which is settled in heaven, from the very country He told us to stay away from spiritually? To say that He did contradicts everything God teaches in the word about coming out of Egypt.

Remember, God’s word is settled – there’s no changing it. Beware, lest you fall into modernism’s trap and become like the world. Your doctrine will be diluted and your testimony will not resemble your Lord and Saviour, but will resemble the god of this world.

O, Revive Us By Thy Word
Daniel W. Whittle

Heav’nly Father, we Thy children,
Gathered round our risen Lord,
Lift our hearts in earnest pleading:
Oh, revive us by Thy Word!

Refrain

Send refreshing, send refreshing,
From Thy presence, gracious Lord!
Send refreshing, send refreshing,
And revive us by Thy Word!

Gracious gales of heav’nly blessing
In Thy love to us afford;
Let us feel Thy Spirit’s presence,
Oh, revive us by Thy Word!

Refrain

Weak and weary in the conflict,
“Wrestling not with flesh and blood,”
Help us, Lord, as faint we falter,
Oh, revive us by Thy Word!

Refrain

With Thy strength, O Master, gird us;
Be our Guide, and be our Guard:
Fill us with Thy Holy Spirit;
Oh, revive us by Thy Word!

Thought for the Day – Tradition

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~Mark 7:8-9, 13 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (13) Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

When I think of “tradition,” I think of Fiddler on the Roof. :-) Tevye and his family sing about the Jewish traditions for the home. Some traditions are wonderful! I think of family gatherings and how I’ve incorporated many of my parents’ family traditions into my own family. But what about religious traditions? Today’s Scriptures do not speak highly of some of them.

I was raised and rooted in religious tradition. Some were very good. However, I did not care if those traditions were based on the Bible or not because the Bible was not read in our home. It was a book that sat on the bookshelf and, on occasion, I would open it to look at the pictures.  After salvation I noticed that some of these traditions were not according to what was written in the Bible. I had been taught all my life that whatever our church taught was equal to the Scriptures.

I’m sure every church is guilty of adding something to their traditions which they believe is as important as what is written in the Scriptures. I am not well versed in all the various religions out there but I can speak about one. An example of this lies with the Catholic church. The Vatican II council stated that “the living teaching office of the Church” (the latin term for this is magisterium) has the authority to interpret historical documents and make them equal with the Word of God. “It is clear therefore, that sacred tradition, sacred Scripture, and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God’s most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others.” (“Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation” (Dei Verbum), Documents of Vatican II, par. 10, p. 118)

They have elevated sacred tradition to be equal with Scripture and, as a result, taken away from the authority of the Scripture.   Scripture would no longer be the only source man would turn to when trying to find truth. Instead, it would be easier to ask a church leader about what to do than to pick up the Bible and read it for themselves.

When one wants to know about repairing a Chevrolet Malibu, one must go to the Chevrolet Malibu manual, not the Toyota Corolla manual. So it stands to reason that if we want to know if something is “scriptural,” we must go to the Scriptures to verify it. One can turn to historical documents but are they in line with Scriptures?  Following after tradition is not recorded in God’s Word as being equal to the Word of God. In fact, at times when tradition is mentioned in the New Testament, it correlates it with God’s Word and to what Christ taught!  Other times, as in today’s text, it proves otherwise. The verses that referred to the traditions of men were penned with disdain – and warning was given to stay away from those traditions.

~Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The Apostles did not have all the New Testament at the time they walked this earth and were spreading the Gospel. It was important, therefore, that believers were taught to follow in their footsteps after their testimony in Christ Jesus! They had an overwhelming responsibility to make sure that they taught others what Christ had taught them. They had an overwhelming responsibility to walk blamelessly so that new Christians would be taught correctly – according to what Christ taught them. They were given power from the Holy Spirit to pen the word of God exactly how the Holy Spirit wanted them to write.

~2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Once the Apostles began to penn the Scriptures through epistles and Gospels, they continued to teach that new Christians should hold fast to those “traditions” that they were taught by the Apostles (in word and through their letters).  These were traditions that were in line with Christ’s words. These were traditions that today are clearly in God’s Word and were taught by Christ!  That is why they were encouraged to follow after them – but only as long as they followed after Christ and His Word.  If there were any contradiction, God’s Word was truth and they were to follow that truth!

~2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Some churches speak of tradition and try to combine it with their church’s authority with an end result of man-made traditions accepted as Gospel truth. Unless you have a ruler to draw a straight line, it is impossible to draw a perfectly straight line by hand. Unless you have the true ruler, Jesus Christ and His word, it is impossible for you to have truth. (John 17:17) Even in Old Testament times, people recognized the man of God and what was spoken by him was truth.

~1 Kings 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

Is it any wonder that some churches would make whatever they want as doctrine to be equal to God’s Word? God says that HIS Word is truth. Jesus prayed this prayer to His Heavenly Father on behalf of His disciples.

~John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus Christ brought us God’s word, therefore, if we want the truth then turn to the Scriptures, not tradition! Christ is God’s spoken word to us!

~John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Do not follow after tradition UNLESS it follows in line with God’s Word. After all, we will be judged according to what is written in the Scriptures. (John 12:48) If there’s ANY question, believe God’s word for it is tried and proven and is for all eternity. Peter, himself, said:

~1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Our church fathers preached the word of God – they penned the word of God so that we may have it as our ruler – to set us straight in our pilgrim path. Don’t be deceived by church traditions – back up what you believe with God’s word. Paul said it best:

~Galatians 1:9-12 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

No one, nothing, can supercede or even make anything equal to what Christ taught. Christ’s words are final. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end!

Thought for the Day – Peace and Rest

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Sunset_June 25 05

~Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Not one person can truly say he has experienced true peace, rest and freedom from life’s burdens until they have been born again and entered into a genuine Father/child relationship with the Heavenly Father. This comes only through salvation.

Do you have this kind of true peace and rest? If not, I challenge you to question the path you are on and read the Gospel of John through three times. Please contact me when you are finished :-)

No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.

Thought for the Day – God’s Word

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I hope you can see this photo clearly.  I took this of the beautiful California Redwoods.  Can you see the two vertical trees that have grown from the horizontal branches of this Redwood?  Isn’t that magnificent?  They are all part of the same tree!  I was simply amazed and in awe of the Lord’s handiwork.  In all of creation, there is an object lesson.  This particular picture brought today’s post to mind.

~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

~Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

~1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

~1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Who does one follow when it comes to the things of God?  Does one follow church leaders?  Does one follow the Bible?  What if the Bible says one thing and the church leaders say another? What does one do?

Some churches say that their church’s traditions and church fathers’ writings are additions to the word of God and more recent. Therefore, they must follow these traditions. Some believe that God’s word is the foundation only and traditions and church fathers’ writings are building blocks which must be obeyed. Hmmmm! That ought to be a red flag! (Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18)

Paul wrote several times in today’s text that we should follow God – and if we follow a church leader, that church leader must be following God and what His word commands.  In other words, we should not be following after a leader who goes against the scriptures.  The scriptures are our measuring stick.  If our church leaders say one thing and the Bible says another, we are to follow the scriptures.  Paul had the opportunity here to tell us to follow leadership even when they are wrong or even when they make up doctrine that goes against Scriptures.  However, Paul emphatically stated that we are to follow after leaders who follow after God – and God reveals His will in His word! Many churches are extremely against following the scriptures only. (Jeremiah 23:32, Matthew 22:29, Hebrews 3:10)

Read these verses and ask yourself if the church you attend falls under these guidelines.  There are fundamental beliefs in Scriptures that cannot be compromised – salvation is one of them.  What does your church leader teach about salvation?  Read your Bible – compare the two.  If there is any difference, your church leaders are not heeding Paul’s exhortation.