February 28, 2012
We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the Word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s Word, which is also at work in you believers.” (The apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians 1:13)
In Paul’s day (fourteen centuries before the printing press) lengthy writings like the Scriptures were rare, since each and every copy had to be printed by hand. Even a traveling evangelist like Paul likely did not own a complete set of Old Testament scrolls personally. Consequently (and by necessity), people had better memories back then than we tend to have today, because if someone wanted to ponder some portion of God’s Word they couldn’t just pick up their own copy of it. No, they’d have to remember from among the times when they’d heard it read.
And the Thessalonian-Christians heard Paul, Silas, and Timothy preach and teach and they “accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s Word.” Paul writes that accepting it as God’s Word transformed the Thessalonians as they became known for their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ… in spite of persecution [receiving] the Word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.” (1:3, 6)
We American-Christians, on the other hand, have ready access to the Scriptures: In many different translations and even in languages we don’t understand! With such ready access to God’s Word one would think we would all know the Scriptures so very well, even with our bad memories. But most do not.
Do we think it is just human words? Don’t we want to hear from God and learn His daily plans and purpose for us?
So often I hear of people opening the Bible looking for a phrase to jump out and catch their attention or inspire them. But if the Bible is truly the Word of God, and if what it says it says with God’s Own authority, then the Bible deserves a more disciplined approach, and what we read we should obey.
Let’s read, hear, and obey what God’s Spirit is saying to the churches!
(Note: If you don’t believe the Bible speaks with God’s Own authority you may not yet have received the Holy Spirit. Ask God that His Spirit would fill you and help your faith.)
In Jesus’ love,
Pastor Ben
February 28, 2012We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the Word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s Word, which is also at work in you believers.” (The apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians 1:13)In Paul’s day (fourteen centuries before the printing press) lengthy writings like the Scriptures were rare, since each and every copy had to be printed by hand. Even a traveling evangelist like Paul likely did not own a complete set of Old Testament scrolls personally. Consequently (and by necessity), people had better memories back then than we tend to have today, because if someone wanted to ponder some portion of God’s Word they couldn’t just pick up their own copy of it. No, they’d have to remember from among the times when they’d heard it read.And the Thessalonian-Christians heard Paul, Silas, and Timothy preach and teach and they “accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s Word.” Paul writes that accepting it as God’s Word transformed the Thessalonians as they became known for their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ… in spite of persecution [receiving] the Word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.” (1:3, 6)We American-Christians, on the other hand, have ready access to the Scriptures: In many different translations and even in languages we don’t understand! With such ready access to God’s Word one would think we would all know the Scriptures so very well, even with our bad memories. But most do not.Do we think it is just human words? Don’t we want to hear from God and learn His daily plans and purpose for us?So often I hear of people opening the Bible looking for a phrase to jump out and catch their attention or inspire them. But if the Bible is truly the Word of God, and if what it says it says with God’s Own authority, then the Bible deserves a more disciplined approach, and what we read we should obey.Let’s read, hear, and obey what God’s Spirit is saying to the churches!(Note: If you don’t believe the Bible speaks with God’s Own authority you may not yet have received the Holy Spirit. Ask God that His Spirit would fill you and help your faith.)In Jesus’ love,Pastor Ben
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