“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
Despite the autumn sun, the air was cool in the park where 6-year-olds played soccer. “So, what do you do?” the mom sitting next to me asked, as we waited while little players lined up. “Well, I teach the Bible,” I responded. “Why?” she asked. “Because it is true,” was my answer, “you should try it!” She ended the conversation, but those words, “it is true!” did summarize God’s loving and powerful action, through His Word, in my life.
Having been taught the Bible from my earliest years, I have always believed the Bible was true. I understood the gospel: that God sent His Son Jesus to die for His people’s sins, and with faith in Him we are forgiven, given His Holy Spirit to live within us, and provided a home with Him forever.
Yet I secretly feared. I wondered if I really had faith enough to be taken with Jesus when He returned, wondering if I was transformed enough. And then as a young mother, in God’s personal grace to me, I began, with the help of structured Bible study and teaching, to understand that God’s true Word, and the gospel message in it, was eternal and also day by day. With the help of structured Bible study and teaching, I began to hear Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 meant Jesus Himself saved me; He is enough, though I am certainly not. And I could rest and be assured in Him.
He was there for me every day, home with my kids, cleaning the house, figuring out finances, wondering about significance. As I read and studied the Bible, I realized that Jesus, through the Word and the Spirit would change and lead me.
Opportunity to teach God’s Word was one of the supreme privileges of my life. God’s Word for His people is like an expanding universe—as we learn and believe, its radiance reveals more and more. The Bible is:
God’s revelation of Himself—His glorious character and attributes, shown against the backdrop of the story of us, humanity, carrying His image, ruined by sin, yet provided with hope of redemption and renewal.
God’s revelation of His Son—His sacrifice and His supremacy foreshadowed through stories, prophecies and ceremonies in the Old Testament, chronicled and interpreted, and His triumph assured in the New Testament.
God’s revelation of renewal in His Spirit—given to those redeemed through Jesus, who guides us through His Spirit and Word. “The unfolding of your word gives light,” (Psalm 119:130) David wrote. It’s true. When sickness and loss come, God’s Word promises, “I will never forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). When discouragement brings temptation to abandon His work and His direction, we find, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
If I could see that woman on the soccer field again, I would press her more to read, to try, to find the truth, with God’s help. God’s Word is truth and continuing new life in the truth.~N. W.
P.S. from Rosemary: She is right. God’s Word is truth. The Bible is true, and the best way you and your friends can learn what is true is by either being a part of (or starting!) a Rafiki Bible Study (RBS). I have the joy of recommending a commentary for every Book of the Bible to help RBS group members get the most out of their study. Most of the commentaries can be purchased at a discount from Rafiki. Check it out! www.rafikifoundation.org
No comments:
Post a Comment