Cherishing the WORD

My late father was a professional soccer player and so from an early age we would always be kicking the ball about in the back garden, playing two-touches with miniature goals made from tomato boxes and orange sacks. These are fond memories but the reason I mention it is the lesson I learnt when I was forced to kick the ball continuously with my left foot to help advance my soccer skills as I was naturally right footed. My dad would say that any good footballer had to have two good feet. And so repetition became the order of the day in my back garden. Today I am as competent with either foot.

Over time as a Christian throughout my highs and lows of life I have by the good graces of my heavenly Father eventually come to a place of a deeper understanding of what the most valued treasure of the Bible is, it is the WORD OF GOD! And John the Apostle understood this better than most. He must have! Look how he starts his Gospel; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” (John 1)

Everything in creation is obedient to the “Word of God”, in fact this verse teaches that all things were created by the Word of God. The sun rises and sets as it has been commanded to do, the seasons change as they do and we could carry on through all of creation and it would soon become very obvious that this is undisputable. Scientists and evolutionists may oppose the Word of God, but I tell you like I have in the past woe to the one who opposes the Word of God, their days are numbered. The time of God’s wrath is just over the horizon and it is the Word which they reject that will ultimately condemn them.  

It amazes me how the world is seeking out love and their fairy tale ending, with a goal to find their soul mate. The hope of love is what motivates and drives their hunger for it. And yet John was known as the beloved disciple, I wonder if it was because he understood the value of God’s Word as his most valued treasure? He found His absolute gratification in the Lord Jesus (the Word) and he needed nothing else. My prayer is that all of God’s children will come to the same realisation.

In order for us to become skilled with the Word of God directing our lives we must learn to trust it as we ort. The only way this will ever become our reality is through the trial of life which in turn will present many differing opportunities for our dependency to trust it, or should I rather more pertinently say “TRUST HIM” – the WORD of GOD is the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Suffering or the trial of life if you prefer will bring about its desired result for the child of God. What it does is bring us to a point where a choice needs to be made, choose sin as the easy out or trust the WORD OF GOD. It is a painful process and it is meant to be; “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1Peter 4:1-2) – It serves a very valuable purpose, it conforms us into the image of Christ, praise His name now and forever more, Amen!

Without effort in this error of our lives we will remain unskilled and just as I needed to have the soccer ball present to my left foot so too do I need the trial of life to present itself so that I too may become trained by the Word of God to trust and obey it come what may.

Sadly for most this truth will elude them and the only reason for it is that they are obstinate to the Word of God. They rebel against it, they have not learnt to value it as they ort. Praise God for opening the eyes of all those of whom He has chosen. Without God’s intervention in our lives we would still be dead in our trespasses and our sin. Oblivious to this truth! But we need to travel deeper with our dependency upon the nay and yay of the Lord if we are to be given the privilege of placing our head on our Saviours chest. A place reserved for John, the beloved disciple.   

The book of Hebrews is a book written with that intent and it tutors us not to rebel against His commandments. Sadly many were saved out of slavery from the captivity of the Egyptians way back in the days of Moses, with all partaking of the same blessing and yet only two of the original exiles hung onto the Word of God, understanding that their lives depended upon it. Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land, whilst all the others fell in the Wilderness.

Here is the reason for their fall; “And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:18-19) – They simply sinned and moaned throughout the entire journey not valuing the Word of God as they should have, may God open our eyes to this reality and help us depend upon His instruction that is found throughout the Bible’s teachings, for if and when His voice becomes our most valued treasure it will be well with our souls and the love of God will overcome all. There is a day coming when we shall enter His rest, but for now we are at war and we must understand that the onslaught is fierce.

Signing off

Tyrone