Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Words of Encouragement




One year at Williams' Camp we made mask for the children. As I looked at this picture I thought about the "unmasking". We can think we know who is behind each of these mask but until we remove them, we will not know for sure. That is how it is with our understanding of the things of God. We think we might understand what something is saying, but until God unmask the truth of what is hidden from our natural understanding, we simply are guessing at what something means. Lord "unmask" for us the truth of your word.





"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. - Proverbs 30:5-6





God's Way. Can I Trust God's Word? I have heard it said before, the word of God is flawed. The reason many believe that is because it is hard in our own understanding to accept that the Bible was written by men and still flawless. Some will say, it is flawed, but it is still "just another good book".





The amazing thing is while the book was written by men over many, many years it was still the word of God as he instructed each to write. The writer of this Proverb states his assurance in that fact. He states that the word of God is flawless and he warns do not add to it or God will rebuke you for changing the meaning of his word. He also confirms that ones belief in the word of God as flawless receives God's protection and assurance.





When we want to ignore God's word or discount it the Bible speaks to what happens to mankind when they do this. (Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes. - Jeremiah 5:14). God's word is able to convict a heart by his word or he is able to judge an unrepentant heart because of his or her refusal of his word. ("Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? - Jeremiah 23:29).





If we accept the truth of God's word, it is what will lead us to God's plan of salvation. (I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. - Romans 1:16)





(For the word of God is living 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) God's word is different from just another good book, it is timeless and it never loses it power. The Bible is the written word of God as he has given to mankind. His word convicts, judges and changes the heart. His word is given to lead people to Jesus, which is the gift of salvation.





Can you trust God's word, yes is the answer. Do not allow the vain babbling of this world to confuse you and make you believe God's word is not true. Read it and ask him to help you gain understanding of it.





I pray for us today. Lord we cannot understand the word of God in our own understanding because it is understood by your Spirit. Help us this day to gain a clearer understanding of your word and your ways. Help us to stand strong against the tricks of the enemy that comes to change your word and confuse us and trick us up in vain ways. Help us to gain a firm grasp on the truth of your word and to live in it.