It is so easy to be distracted from a regular diet of the Word of God. Like Martha in Luke chapter 10, we can become preoccupied with all manner of things and fail to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary. Today, I simply want to share with you two sources that have encouraged and reminded me to look to the Book.
The first comes from the 19th century Church of England pastor Charles Bridges. In his book “The Christian Ministry,” (published by Banner of Truth) Bridges writes (and I quote at length): “The book of God is indeed the living voice of the Spirit….The attentive study of the Scriptures has a sort of constraining power. It fills the mind with the most splendid form of heavenly truth, which it teaches with purity, solidity, certainty, and without the least mixture of error. It soothes the mind with an inexpressible sweetness; it satisfies the sacred hunger and thirst for knowledge with flowing rivers of honey and butter; it penetrates into the innermost heart with irresistible influence; it imprints its own testimony so firmly upon the mind, that the believing soul rests upon it with the same security, as if it had been carried up into the third heaven, and heard it from God’s own mouth; it touches all the affections, and breathes the sweetest fragrance of holiness upon the pious [worshipful] reader, even though he may not perhaps comprehend the full extent of his reading.” (pp 58, 59) We may not “comprehend the full extent of [our] reading,” but we can know that we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing the “living voice of the Spirit,” and feasting on the bread of God. The Word will do its work! The second source of encouragement to look to the Book comes from Psalm 119. I agree with pastor and author Kevin DeYoung that Psalm 119 is the psalmist’s “love poem” for the Word of God. When we feel our hearts cooling down or drifting from the Bible, we would be helped by plunging into the fiery passions and joyful delights of Psalm 119. Let me share just 8 verses to wet your appetite: “Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your comandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” Psalm 119:17-24 I hope you are encouraged and stirred again and again to look to the Book! Comments are closed.
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AuthorChuck Cook is the pastor of Grace Bible Church - Rolla. Archives
April 2020
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