why i believe the bible
8 My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:8-11
So what do you tell people when they ask, “You don't really believe all that stuff in the Bible, do you?” Of all the arguments you can use to defend your faith, here's one that no one can deny: “I believe the Bible because it accomplishes God's purpose in my life.”
As God says in Isaiah 55:11, “[My Word] shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Have you ever felt totally convicted as you listened to God's Word being taught? Has the Spirit of God ever used his Word like a beam of light, revealing your specific thoughts and motives? I could tell you about times God's Word has worked me over. Or, has the Bible ever delivered a peace that transcends all understanding? Has it given you strength?
I wish you could see what I see from the front of my church every week as I teach God's Word. I look across the faces of people gripped by God's eternal truth. Tears stream down their cheeks. Some can hardly look up because they're under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. God's Word is always effective in doing the job that he intends it to do.
I am convinced beyond any doubt that the Bible is inspired by God, without error in its teachings, trustworthy in its authority, immeasurable in influence, personal in application, life-changing in power, and diverse in its unity. This reality compels me to celebrate it and obey it. Why? Because I've experienced it.
Starting today, make a greater personal investment in God's Word. You've got the time—just set your priorities. Make it the passion of your life to discover what it means to delight in the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:77).
And the next time someone asks you, “Do you believe the Bible?” proclaim your confidence in God and the book he has written by answering, “I'm glad you asked . . .” —James MacDonald walkintheword.com
seeking: Father, what Scripture has lifted my heart today? How will I praise you for your wonderful Word?
responding: Am I allowing Scripture to penetrate my life and change me? • Does the time and effort I put into Bible reading and study reflect my faith in it as the Word of God?
Lord, forgive me for allowing other things to quench my thirst, when your Word is a spring of living water. Teach me what it means to delight in your law.
following: God's Word is always effective in accomplishing God's purposes.
our journey
Friday, October 13, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
integrity of the gospel
27 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:27-30
The other evening my oldest son Bryan and I had an interesting conversation. He was sharing with me his disappointment with some of his Christian friends whose lives don't match up to the gospel they say they believe. In fact, the sin in their lives really discredits the message they preach. It sobered us both because we realize we're also capable of sinful failure and thus violating the integrity of our message.
The gospel is a holy message that should be represented by a holy life. It's the whole package. God didn't entrust the gospel message and the proclamation of this wonderful news to people who are not living right and don't intend to change. A changed life gives full credibility and integrity to the message that's preached, which then will produce change in someone else's life.
In Philippians 1:27-28, Paul underscored that the placesetting of the gospel is our lives. We are not the gospel, but we are to be clean vessels that the gospel is being served on. No one wants to eat food off dirty dishes. We want food served on clean plates.
We need to examine our lives. Are we clean? Are we good dishes for God to use? If he places us on his table of opportunity and people come by, will they want to send the food back because they look at us and say, “This isn't clean. I can't eat off this. I might get sick.” That's what happens when we don't pay attention to keeping our life clean.
The gospel calls for urgency both in dealing with sin in our lives and proclaiming the message. People are looking at us. They need to hear the truth, so we need to share it urgently.
The “good news” is not just a message we share—it's the life we live. Let's make sure our lives tell the truth about what we say. —Crawford W. Loritts livingalegacy.org
seeking: Father, what commitment to represent you can I make right now? How have you revealed my inability to truly present and live out your message?
responding: What areas of my life are not clean? • Do people see the gospel being lived out in my life? Why or why not?
Heavenly Father, I want others to see your gospel in my life. Help me to share the “good news” with love, boldness, and urgency.
following: People need to see the gospel as well as hear it.
our journey
27 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:27-30
The other evening my oldest son Bryan and I had an interesting conversation. He was sharing with me his disappointment with some of his Christian friends whose lives don't match up to the gospel they say they believe. In fact, the sin in their lives really discredits the message they preach. It sobered us both because we realize we're also capable of sinful failure and thus violating the integrity of our message.
The gospel is a holy message that should be represented by a holy life. It's the whole package. God didn't entrust the gospel message and the proclamation of this wonderful news to people who are not living right and don't intend to change. A changed life gives full credibility and integrity to the message that's preached, which then will produce change in someone else's life.
In Philippians 1:27-28, Paul underscored that the placesetting of the gospel is our lives. We are not the gospel, but we are to be clean vessels that the gospel is being served on. No one wants to eat food off dirty dishes. We want food served on clean plates.
We need to examine our lives. Are we clean? Are we good dishes for God to use? If he places us on his table of opportunity and people come by, will they want to send the food back because they look at us and say, “This isn't clean. I can't eat off this. I might get sick.” That's what happens when we don't pay attention to keeping our life clean.
The gospel calls for urgency both in dealing with sin in our lives and proclaiming the message. People are looking at us. They need to hear the truth, so we need to share it urgently.
The “good news” is not just a message we share—it's the life we live. Let's make sure our lives tell the truth about what we say. —Crawford W. Loritts livingalegacy.org
seeking: Father, what commitment to represent you can I make right now? How have you revealed my inability to truly present and live out your message?
responding: What areas of my life are not clean? • Do people see the gospel being lived out in my life? Why or why not?
Heavenly Father, I want others to see your gospel in my life. Help me to share the “good news” with love, boldness, and urgency.
following: People need to see the gospel as well as hear it.
our journey
Thursday, October 05, 2006
close to the shepherd
1 Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5
It's a shocking fact that a good shepherd will break the leg of a wandering sheep. A loving, caring shepherd knows that by taking something away, in time the loss will be replaced by something far better . . . something to keep his lamb strong and protected.
It can seem heartless for God to take away some of the things we so highly value in life. Relationships, health, employment, and other treasured things can be swept away by the Father's loving hand. But when our hearts are broken, we can grow closer in intimacy with our Shepherd as he develops our character (1 Peter 5:3-4). And that's a lesson that must be learned. For it's rough out there. Life can bring a steady stream of temptations. But he wants us on his trail—the safe trail of righteousness. Without the character-building ways of God, we would become weak and defenseless. We wouldn't be able to turn from desires and temptations that could destroy us. That's why it's so important for us to be broken.
God has broken my “leg.” Perhaps he has broken yours. That's why, spiritually speaking, I walk with a limp. Although the experience was painful, I'm glad he did it. For now I'm very mindful of staying close to Jesus. Most of us would not choose to have a leg broken. But what's the alternative? When we refuse to follow the Shepherd, we play right into the hands of the enemy who wants to destroy us. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Strong-willed sheep think much of their own plans and little about the enemy. They misread the trail of righteousness, thinking that a life of ease will lead to happiness. But that's the road to ruin. Brokenness brings us back to where we belong—close to God's heart. —Steve Farrar stevefarrar.com
seeking: Father, what have you shown me about suffering and its purposes? What renewed hope have you placed in my heart?
responding: How does God use hardships to shape my character? How does he use them to keep me from being defeated by the devil? • What does God desire of me as I face my brokenness?
Father, I desire to stay close to your heart. Let me be broken, if it will keep me there and far from the devil. I praise you, my Shield and Shepherd.
following: God keeps us close to protect us.
our journey
1 Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5
It's a shocking fact that a good shepherd will break the leg of a wandering sheep. A loving, caring shepherd knows that by taking something away, in time the loss will be replaced by something far better . . . something to keep his lamb strong and protected.
It can seem heartless for God to take away some of the things we so highly value in life. Relationships, health, employment, and other treasured things can be swept away by the Father's loving hand. But when our hearts are broken, we can grow closer in intimacy with our Shepherd as he develops our character (1 Peter 5:3-4). And that's a lesson that must be learned. For it's rough out there. Life can bring a steady stream of temptations. But he wants us on his trail—the safe trail of righteousness. Without the character-building ways of God, we would become weak and defenseless. We wouldn't be able to turn from desires and temptations that could destroy us. That's why it's so important for us to be broken.
God has broken my “leg.” Perhaps he has broken yours. That's why, spiritually speaking, I walk with a limp. Although the experience was painful, I'm glad he did it. For now I'm very mindful of staying close to Jesus. Most of us would not choose to have a leg broken. But what's the alternative? When we refuse to follow the Shepherd, we play right into the hands of the enemy who wants to destroy us. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Strong-willed sheep think much of their own plans and little about the enemy. They misread the trail of righteousness, thinking that a life of ease will lead to happiness. But that's the road to ruin. Brokenness brings us back to where we belong—close to God's heart. —Steve Farrar stevefarrar.com
seeking: Father, what have you shown me about suffering and its purposes? What renewed hope have you placed in my heart?
responding: How does God use hardships to shape my character? How does he use them to keep me from being defeated by the devil? • What does God desire of me as I face my brokenness?
Father, I desire to stay close to your heart. Let me be broken, if it will keep me there and far from the devil. I praise you, my Shield and Shepherd.
following: God keeps us close to protect us.
our journey
Monday, October 02, 2006
Lessons in Love
Virginia Smith
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds ... Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19, NIV)
After a long day of Christmas shopping, my adult daughter and I found a table in the food court to rest our aching feet and sip hot cocoa. With sighs of relief, we piled our packages around us and sat back to watch the parade of mall shoppers. Our talk turned to past Christmases.
“Do you remember the year we did Christmas for that poor family?” my daughter asked.
I certainly did! I had become concerned that my 10- and 13-year-old children were too self-centered, so we ‘adopted’ a needy family. Our commitment was to provide everything – toys, clothes, even food for Christmas dinner. The kids helped with shopping and wrapping the gifts, and when they participated enthusiastically I thought my plan was succeeding.
Then came delivery day - Christmas Eve. We drove to a not-so-nice part of town and parked in front of a run-down trailer. I saw my son’s eyes widen as he glimpsed a rust-eaten car with no doors, propped up on cement blocks in the front yard. Rust speckled the tin roof of the trailer as well, and one of the windows had been replaced by cardboard and criss-crossed with duct tape.
The mother of this family had taken the younger kids out, leaving a grandmother and a girl my daughter’s age to receive our gifts. Stepping into their tiny living room, I fought to hide my tears at the sight of the smallest Christmas tree I had ever seen, one even Charlie Brown would have rejected. Childish handmade paper ornaments decorated the drooping branches, hung there as beacons of hope that this season of God’s abiding love would bring something special to even this humble home. We unloaded bag after bag, and soon we had filled up the single room and covered the kitchen counters. The girl and her grandmother were so grateful we were embarrassed by their constant thanks.
Both of my kids were silent in the car as we drove home, and I was mentally congratulating myself on teaching them a valuable lesson in Christian charity. But then my daughter burst out in an angry voice, “Well thank you very much for ruining my Christmas! I can’t believe you took me to that terrible place.” Devastated, I realized my lesson in love had failed.
As I recounted this to my adult daughter, she listened quietly. Then she shook her head. “I don’t remember being upset. But I do remember how happy that girl was to get our gifts, and how good it felt to give them. It’s one of my best Christmas memories.”
As parents, our responsibility is to model God’s love for our children. We can’t always tell what effect our efforts will have, and sometimes the lesson isn’t fully learned until time has done its part in seasoning the message. But when we’re obedient, we can trust God to teach the lessons in His own time.
PRAYER: Generous Father, let my life be dedicated to serving You today, so others will see the lessons You want to teach through me.
cbn
Virginia Smith
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds ... Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19, NIV)
After a long day of Christmas shopping, my adult daughter and I found a table in the food court to rest our aching feet and sip hot cocoa. With sighs of relief, we piled our packages around us and sat back to watch the parade of mall shoppers. Our talk turned to past Christmases.
“Do you remember the year we did Christmas for that poor family?” my daughter asked.
I certainly did! I had become concerned that my 10- and 13-year-old children were too self-centered, so we ‘adopted’ a needy family. Our commitment was to provide everything – toys, clothes, even food for Christmas dinner. The kids helped with shopping and wrapping the gifts, and when they participated enthusiastically I thought my plan was succeeding.
Then came delivery day - Christmas Eve. We drove to a not-so-nice part of town and parked in front of a run-down trailer. I saw my son’s eyes widen as he glimpsed a rust-eaten car with no doors, propped up on cement blocks in the front yard. Rust speckled the tin roof of the trailer as well, and one of the windows had been replaced by cardboard and criss-crossed with duct tape.
The mother of this family had taken the younger kids out, leaving a grandmother and a girl my daughter’s age to receive our gifts. Stepping into their tiny living room, I fought to hide my tears at the sight of the smallest Christmas tree I had ever seen, one even Charlie Brown would have rejected. Childish handmade paper ornaments decorated the drooping branches, hung there as beacons of hope that this season of God’s abiding love would bring something special to even this humble home. We unloaded bag after bag, and soon we had filled up the single room and covered the kitchen counters. The girl and her grandmother were so grateful we were embarrassed by their constant thanks.
Both of my kids were silent in the car as we drove home, and I was mentally congratulating myself on teaching them a valuable lesson in Christian charity. But then my daughter burst out in an angry voice, “Well thank you very much for ruining my Christmas! I can’t believe you took me to that terrible place.” Devastated, I realized my lesson in love had failed.
As I recounted this to my adult daughter, she listened quietly. Then she shook her head. “I don’t remember being upset. But I do remember how happy that girl was to get our gifts, and how good it felt to give them. It’s one of my best Christmas memories.”
As parents, our responsibility is to model God’s love for our children. We can’t always tell what effect our efforts will have, and sometimes the lesson isn’t fully learned until time has done its part in seasoning the message. But when we’re obedient, we can trust God to teach the lessons in His own time.
PRAYER: Generous Father, let my life be dedicated to serving You today, so others will see the lessons You want to teach through me.
cbn