Based on “What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
11/7-8/09, Message #MB395; Daily Devotional #1 - “Truth or Consequences”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): “The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” A.W. Tozer
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): God’s Word is true (John 17:17). In the Evangelical church we often hear that statement proclaimed. We believe it in our heads as an intellectual assent, but does the reality of that truth play out in everyday practical circumstances? Do we meditate long enough to let it speak to our lives and direct our decisions (Joshua 1:8)? Or is it more of a story we read in order to make us feel better when times get tough? Our answer definitely determines the quality of our life here on earth and potentially our eternal life in the hereafter (John 5:24).
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): I’ve been challenged this week to look closely at what I really believe about the Bible. It’s straightforward to believe in Jesus, what He’s done for me, that the Gospel is true, and I’m going to spend eternity in heaven. That’s good. That’s easy. But what about the parts that aren’t so effortless? For example, is it easy when the Bible tells us to love God with our whole heart and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39)? What about the directive for husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church, or wives to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33), or children to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3)? Do we make excuses for why we are the exception to that rule? “Well, if you knew my neighbor, my wife, my husband, my parents, you’d know why I can’t do that!” The bottom line is whether our belief in God’s Word is just in our heads, or does it apply to the good, bad, and ugly of our everyday lives? It’s either all true, or not at all. It either makes our lives abundant and satisfying, or why bother obeying? We all know the answer. God’s Word applied to our lives changes everything. Our challenge is to trust God for the grace and power to live it out.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Matthew 4:14; Psalm 119:105)
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