GOD'S WORD WILL BE FINAL

God's Word will be final. In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light,” and it was so (Genesis 1:3). No fluff, no explanation of how that happened, no scientific proof. God said, and it was so. Period!

Life is a journey, and one thing that never leaves us, or me, to speak in the first person, though I think it is the same for many of us, is that our thoughts constantly accompany our realities. At times, we have fond memories of times past, but mostly we remember the mistakes made along the way, especially when we fall by the wayside in any area of our lives.

However, it is crucial to look at ourselves in the mirror. Let's pause to consider the woman in the mirror. How often do you use a mirror to prepare yourself for the day? Should it not be the same for us as we prepare to sit at the feet of Jesus?

The difference is that on a date night, we may spend a little more time in front of the mirror. I see a parallel in my own conduct. Sometimes I consciously decide to sit at the feet of Jesus, or at least try to get His attention. God, the Holy Spirit, intervenes in these precious moments. We lose sleep, and somehow, we just know it is time to get up and listen for the voice of Jesus.

Jacob was so convinced of the importance of a blessing that it became a defining feature of his life. He tricked his brother into securing their father's blessing, but later wrestled through the night, refusing to let go until he received one (Genesis 27:18–29; Genesis 32:24–29). We need to examine these passages carefully. What was Jacob prepared to do to obtain the blessing? What was he willing to endure, and at what cost? His journey involved deception, struggle, injury, and ultimately a change in his identity. When he wrestled through the night, he came away with a limp and a new name, Israel. His encounter was not without consequence (Genesis 32:25–32).

We also know from Scripture that David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). It would be good for us to study these examples, not merely to admire their faith, but to examine the depth of their desire for God and what their lives reveal about the cost of pursuing His purposes. How seriously do we seek the Lord? What are we prepared to surrender, and how willing are we to let Him change us?

Furthermore, consider how we learn our partners' likes and dislikes. As men, we give flowers as a gesture of acknowledgement, but if we want that gesture to have more impact, we need to choose the right flowers. That requires paying attention to the details, listening, observing, and remembering what matters to the person we love.

Am I paying attention to the details in my relationship with Jesus? Do I notice the things He draws my attention to in His Word, or do I sometimes read without really taking them in?

How well do we know our Saviour? Really!

In Matthew 6, Jesus speaks about the flowers, singling out the lilies of the field to drive home a lesson to His hearers (Matthew 6:28–30). This morning, I find myself asking a question: why the lily? It may have little bearing on the lesson itself, but I ask again, how well do we know our Saviour? Am I paying attention to the details, even in the words He chose to teach us?

Head and heart, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). So little focus is placed on material wealth, yet that seems to drive us. Go figure! We love to cut the cloth of our own lives to fit our own lives, not His. We always, by default, err on the side of selfishness.

Where am I very weak? I ask myself. Watching and praying are weaknesses of mine. God, give me strength to be more resolved in this area of my life. I easily succumb to life's trials and give in to the temptations of the flesh. It seems to be a weakness of mine.

Remember the garden of Gethsemane. The disciples fell asleep, yet the command was to watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. Jesus found them asleep (Matthew 26:40–41).

There are two lessons here. Jesus had to face this alone, and He alone had to drink the full cup. The other lesson is that if we do not watch and pray, we will fall into temptation and ultimately sin.

These are things I need to face honestly when I look in the mirror. It is easy to see others' faults, but what do I see when I look at myself? Am I making time to sit at the feet of Jesus? Am I learning His ways, paying attention to His Word, and allowing Him to deal with the weaknesses I know are there?

I do not ask these questions as someone who has all the answers. I ask them because I know that I need my Saviour. I need the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to work in my life. I need the Word of God to shape my thoughts, correct my conduct, and remind me of what matters most.

God's Word will be final. The question is whether I am prepared to let His Word have the final say in my life, rather than allowing my own desires, excuses, and weaknesses to rule me.

Signing off
Tyrone

Scripture references: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 27:18 to 29; Genesis 32:24 to 29; Acts 13:22; Matthew 6:28 to 30; Matthew 26:40 to 41; 1 Corinthians 13:13