Tag Archives: the scriptures

February 1
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“Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.'” (Matthew 22:29, NIV)

Ouch!

What a stinging rebuke it was to the people to whom Jesus spoke these words: People whose business it was to know both the Scriptures and the power of God.

As followers of Jesus, we are also expected to know both the word of God, and the power of God.  Our Lord expects it of us.  The watching world expects it of us; and we ought to expect it of ourselves.

The former we acquire through diligent study; and the latter we acquire through faithful obedience. This is our safeguard against error.  – Luther

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January 6
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“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. . .”  (Psalm 1:1a, KJV)

There is a lot of bad advice out there.  Some of it is “conventional wisdom.”  Some of it is based on superstition.  Some of it is based on half-truths.  All of it is beneath the disciple of Jesus.

The children of God have a higher, truer, more enduring counsel: The word of God.

Obtaining the counsel (advice) that blesses us, and those around us, is not hard to obtain; but it challenges our resolve to spend time in the presence of God’s Holy Word.

Like an attentive father to his child, the Lord God will guide our steps toward everlasting life, peace, and joy; the things that ungodly counsel promises, but never delivers.  – Luther

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November 1
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“For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)

The word of God is alive.  In order for the word of God to grow within us, we must make room for it; we must take time for it; we must nurture it.

The word of God is active.  We see the word of God at work — and wanting to be at work — in our circumstances; leading, guiding, teaching, comforting, correcting.

The word of God is the criterion for good and evil.  The attitude or the thought subjected to its scrutiny will always run true.

To begin any day without the word of God hidden within one’s heart is an invitation to frustration and spiritual defeat.  The disciple of Jesus has the word of God as an alternative to frustration and defeat in spiritual things.  – Luther

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