2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several years ago, I set out to read the Bible in a year, using a study guide that suggested a passage to read each day from the Old Testament, the New Testament…and a Psalm or verses from Proverbs. At first, I thought it was a little strange, as I read from Genesis 1 and Matthew 1, plus the Psalm. But very quickly, I began to see how these scriptures dove-tailed…how often something in either the Old Testament or the New Testament would reference the verses from the other…or how the topic would be quite similar.
I’ve heard several people ask why we need the Old Testament now. After all, Jesus came and made things new…gave us new commandments and removed the need for us to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice animals on an altar. He became the Sacrificial Lamb for our sins! So why even read all of that in the Old Testament? Why read about the rituals of Leviticus and all of the old Jewish rules? What do the statistics in Numbers matter to us now? These are valid questions.
As I studied, I realized that having a reference point from these Old Testament passages gave them relevance. It was clearer to me just how much the life of Jesus meant for us…how much it changed things. As I read about the “old ways” and parallel scriptures about the “New Life in Christ”, I was even more grateful for Jesus’ life and what He did for each of us. And as I write these devotionals each day, I am keenly aware of just how timely God’s word is for us.
On any given day, the exact same scripture verse can speak to us in a different manner. Philippians 4:13… For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (NLT)…can speak to us of God’s strength and power one day…remind us of His love and compassion another…and on another can encourage us and alleviate any fear and doubt we may experience about God’s continual presence. I have opened my Bible and read the same passage countless times and come away with a totally different perspective in that particular moment.
Does this mean the Bible is wishy-washy…that God’s word is ambiguous? Absolutely NOT! God’s word is relevant and right for us all the time. Just as Paul told Timothy in this passage, the scriptures are “God-breathed” and always useful “in one way or another.” So when we need compassion, God breathes empathy into His ordained word…when we need strength, we find it.
When we need reassurance or courage, God leads us to passages that can provide sustenance and motivation. And the scriptures of the Old Testament provide a foundation…illustrate how we got here…provide profiles in courage and lessons in faith…and pave the way for the message of the New Testament and the accounts of the life of Christ and the creation of His church.
Whatever you need…wherever you are, the “God-breathed” words of the scriptures can fill the bill. When was the last time you picked up your Bible and dove into the message that God left there for you? How often are you seeking Him in scripture? Are you missing out on truths, training, and tasks that God has highlighted for you there? Isn’t it time you looked at the scriptures with fresh eyes and an open heart and mind? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label consulting the scriptures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consulting the scriptures. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 18, 2012
John 5:39-40
“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The house where we live overlooks Greers Ferry Dam. A lot of days, fog comes and goes over the river. One evening shortly after we moved here, the dam “disappeared.” I told my husband, “I can’t see the dam!” He laughed and said, “Fog has rolled in. The dam is still there!”
A lot of us are walking around “in a fog.” Jesus is standing right in front of us, but often, we can’t see Him because of this. We fail to recognize His presence in our lives, especially when things become difficult, frustrating – or even mundane. We are so busy looking for a “Christmas Pageant.” We expect angels to sing and the heavens to open and bright light to pour forth. We anticipate some shift in the universe that signals the presence of God, when all the while, He never went anywhere. He was still there.
Today, I encourage you to stop, look and listen… and feel the presence of Jesus in your life. Experience His Holy Spirit working in and through you in every breath you take. As you read the scriptures and seek God, don’t miss Him. Hear His voice as His Holy Word leads you through each life. Feel the love, comfort, grace, and mercy He offers you. Never miss His wisdom and strength!
We’re in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of the year. It’s easy to lose focus… to find ourselves shrouded “in a fog.” Don’t let your life get so busy or out of focus that you lose sight of Jesus. He’s standing right before you. Are you ready to reach out to Him and embrace the life He offers?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The house where we live overlooks Greers Ferry Dam. A lot of days, fog comes and goes over the river. One evening shortly after we moved here, the dam “disappeared.” I told my husband, “I can’t see the dam!” He laughed and said, “Fog has rolled in. The dam is still there!”
A lot of us are walking around “in a fog.” Jesus is standing right in front of us, but often, we can’t see Him because of this. We fail to recognize His presence in our lives, especially when things become difficult, frustrating – or even mundane. We are so busy looking for a “Christmas Pageant.” We expect angels to sing and the heavens to open and bright light to pour forth. We anticipate some shift in the universe that signals the presence of God, when all the while, He never went anywhere. He was still there.
Today, I encourage you to stop, look and listen… and feel the presence of Jesus in your life. Experience His Holy Spirit working in and through you in every breath you take. As you read the scriptures and seek God, don’t miss Him. Hear His voice as His Holy Word leads you through each life. Feel the love, comfort, grace, and mercy He offers you. Never miss His wisdom and strength!
We’re in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of the year. It’s easy to lose focus… to find ourselves shrouded “in a fog.” Don’t let your life get so busy or out of focus that you lose sight of Jesus. He’s standing right before you. Are you ready to reach out to Him and embrace the life He offers?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 9, 2012
Isaiah 8:19-22
Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I will admit that I have watched the television show Long Island Medium. I’ve seen shows where the popular medium John Edwards has talked to spirits in the audience... given someone a message from a dear departed relative… or told someone something that they claimed “nobody else could have possibly known!” While I remain skeptical about such things… and this scripture passage suggests that we should not dabble in these practices, I cannot speak for others and how it makes them feel. I know that some people believe in this strongly… and some who have had a “reading” felt it was real – and comforting.
The thing is, we look to all sorts of people and things to make us feel better, when what we really need to do is consult our Bible and spend some time in prayer. With the Internet, you can type virtually any word in the search box for GOOGLE or many other search engines and find scripture to support you. For instance, type “scriptures on worry” and see what results you get. Enter “scriptures on addiction,” or “scriptures on sibling rivalry… debt…or illness” and you will find plenty of passages that address your exact need. Read the Proverbs and Psalms for guidance, wisdom, and comfort. And talk to God. See what He tells you and shows you. I guarantee that His answers will be truer and more comforting than any you can get from a psychic or anyone else who tells you they can help you get rich quick, make you a “better you,” or solve your problems!
We waste a lot of time and energy looking for answers in the wrong places. Isn’t it time to put aside such foolishness and turn to the One who can really help? Today is a great day to turn the corner. Look to God for answers, and start operating in his wisdom and peace!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I will admit that I have watched the television show Long Island Medium. I’ve seen shows where the popular medium John Edwards has talked to spirits in the audience... given someone a message from a dear departed relative… or told someone something that they claimed “nobody else could have possibly known!” While I remain skeptical about such things… and this scripture passage suggests that we should not dabble in these practices, I cannot speak for others and how it makes them feel. I know that some people believe in this strongly… and some who have had a “reading” felt it was real – and comforting.
The thing is, we look to all sorts of people and things to make us feel better, when what we really need to do is consult our Bible and spend some time in prayer. With the Internet, you can type virtually any word in the search box for GOOGLE or many other search engines and find scripture to support you. For instance, type “scriptures on worry” and see what results you get. Enter “scriptures on addiction,” or “scriptures on sibling rivalry… debt…or illness” and you will find plenty of passages that address your exact need. Read the Proverbs and Psalms for guidance, wisdom, and comfort. And talk to God. See what He tells you and shows you. I guarantee that His answers will be truer and more comforting than any you can get from a psychic or anyone else who tells you they can help you get rich quick, make you a “better you,” or solve your problems!
We waste a lot of time and energy looking for answers in the wrong places. Isn’t it time to put aside such foolishness and turn to the One who can really help? Today is a great day to turn the corner. Look to God for answers, and start operating in his wisdom and peace!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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