Thy Word...

Psalm 119:9-16 (New International Version)

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9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.

14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.

16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

We did the first lesson (tour) of The Truth Project the other night. Professor, Dr. Del Tackett has a captivating and thrilling way with words. I encourage you to take the opportunity if you get the chance to participate in a group that is taking this tour.

3 weeks ago Pastor McLoed was finalizing a study of Jesus Christ. In the series of sermons, he presented that Jesus Christ is the single most important person to have set foot on this planet. Lest you subconsciously roll your eyes, consider that our calendar is presently centered (more or less) on His life here on earth. Consider that no other man claimed to be God incarnate not once but many times. Consider the many miracles - ultimately even raising some from the dead as a sign that He had power over death itself. He calmed the storms, He had power over the weather. He had power over demons, casting them out. Most of all, He had the power to have thwarted men's efforts to crucify Him; not only thwarted, but also to crush them.

The reason that I mention these powerful sermons, is that I wanted to point out two concepts in this post that are so important. One, is that the Word of God (the Bible) is not some text book that has some nice ideas, but a truth book that helps us to see the God who made us, loves us and wants us to know Him. Concept Two is that Christ's coming brought a revelation of truth. If you think that either of these concepts is nice, but a little too much for you, then consider the way my pastor put it: If your version of God does not perform the miraculous then He does not have the power to save, and you are destined to suffer for sins that have no payment.

If Christ is who He claimed to be (read the Gospel of John), then He is the only hope we have to be saved from eternal damnation. If Christ is not who He claimed to be, then we believers are following a lunatic, not a teacher or a prophet.

My final point is that Scripture reveals to us the heart of God to restore a relationship with men to what He intended it to be. We read in Genesis that Adam and Eve walked and talked with God personally - the way that you and I might visit on Sunday afternoons over dinner. Adam and Eve sinned, and the relationship was damaged, Creation was damaged. In the Bible we read of God's continuing plan to restore that relationship. Front to back, beginning to end, it is the unfolding of that plan of how to begin that restoration.

I pray that the Spirit of Truth will help you to see the layers of lies that many people try to impose about Christ, about the Scriptures. I hope that in reading the Bible you will start in John and see what and why Jesus had to come and do what He did. I hope that if you already believe, you will consider what it means to you.

Thy Word, Lord, is a light to my path. I would not understand Truth without it. I pray that You will continue to reveal Yourself to us as we read...