God’s Word for 2019

I’ve been challenged in my Bible reading lately.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes you read, and it sounds very familiar.  But then there are times when a verse or phrase just jumps out at you.  That was the case for me in the past few weeks.  My attention was drawn to the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John, especially the last 10-12 verses.  Jesus encounters a “certain royal official” who asks Jesus to heal his son, who is near to death.  Jesus tells him to “go, your son will live.  The next phrase in verse 50 makes it plain: “the man took Jesus at his word and departed.”

This is a challenge for me and our congregation in 2019: what would happen if we take God at His Word? We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.  It is unchanging (Ps 119:89, Isaiah 40:8) and powerful (Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:10-11).  It’s time to put our faith into action! Let’s make a fresh determination to read the Bible and take it seriously as God’s Word!  People have literally given their lives so that we can have God’s Word in English (one example is William Tyndale, who was killed for his efforts to translate the New Testament into English).

I came across an interesting article this week.  Check it out here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/december/voskamp-havens-when-word-becomes-words-rendille.html

The author writes of the New Testament translation being delivered to the Rendille people of northern Kenya.  Through word and picture, the delight of the people shines! May we delight also in God’s Word.

There are lots of good Bible reading plans if you wish to use one to assist you.  I’ve begun a new one in 2019.  Feel free to contact me if you’d like more information.

We can read the Bible all we like, but it can’t end there.  Notice that the theme verse says, “the man took Jesus at his word and departed.” (emphasis mine)  Belief must lead to action, to obedience.  James 1:22 instructs us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

I look forward to hearing from you!

God bless,

Pastor David