The Marvelous Gift of God's Word

It has been a busy morning. Phone calls from across the country, emails to answer, lessons to email or pack up to send. Then the traffic was backed up because of road-work. I couldn’t turn into the post office because a Handi-van was parked, blocking the entrance. There was just one line at the drug store and it was backed up so far down the aisle that I couldn’t see the check-out stand. I decided on the way home that I needed something soothing, comforting so I stopped at Starbucks. Another line! I counted and there were twelve people in front of me. I don’t know why I waited but I did and that only compounded the stress. 

I was so thankful to be home, to sit down with my Bible and my decaf mocha. I usually spend time in the word before I go out in the morning, but there were lessons I wanted to get off in the early mail today. Anyway, as I sat down and opened my Bible to read, a light bulb popped up above my head -- a thought -- one which really should not be new to me, but one whose implications I had not consciously considered before. I want to share it with you today. Here we go.

God’s word is never stress provoking. God never makes you wait in line before serving you His comfort, encouragement, and wisdom. He serves everybody at once! He never blocks the road, but graciously opens the way to truth and understanding when you go to Him. He even sends the Helper, His Holy Spirit to guide and to illuminate your mind.

God’s word is always calming and comforting. It is always true. God never lies, He never jokes around and then says, “Only kidding.” He is never abusive, intolerant, mocking, insensitive, disparaging, arrogant, uncaring, self-serving, opportunistic, malicious, reckless, thoughtless, or miserly. God never changes the meaning of words! Even with the passage of centuries His words and meanings are the same. What blessed assurance! Salvation, grace, forgiveness, sin, deliverance, mercy, hope, love, truth, marriage -- they all have the same meaning now that they had when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the writer first put pen to paper (or papyrus). That means that God is trustworthy and it gives me security as I sit in my favorite chair in the corner of my room and humbly and gratefully immerse myself in His word and let it permeate my mind, my heart, and my soul.

In God’s word I find peace (not as the world gives). I find security, honesty, direction for my life, hope, and succor, an old fashioned word that means “support in times of hardship and distress.” In ancient days it was a military word that referred to reinforcements of troops. Succor comes from the Latin “succurrere” meaning “run to the help of”. God’s word always succors me. It runs to my help, meeting me in the stresses, griefs, persecutions, and trials of my day. Through His word, God sends reinforcements to my mind, heart, and soul. No wonder I look forward to my time spent with God in His word every day. As I quietly and patiently read, He lifts me from the harsh realities of this world and focuses my eyes on Him and on His point of view. I step out of any “worldview” and into His “sovereign view”. I am graciously reproved, renewed, refreshed, and reinvigorated. I am ever so grateful for this marvelous gift God has given. As I read the Bible, God speaks His words to me and His words succor me. He desires to do that for you too! Have you taken the time to allow God to succor you today?

With love ~ Suzie 

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