Indispensable Tool

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)"

It may seem like an ancient relic today, but not too many years ago people in all kinds of trades and vocations found a slide rule to be indispensable. This ingenious instrument was used to make complex mathematic computations quickly."Dr Burt Nanus recalls that on his first day in engineering school in 1953, a professor advised the entering freshmen to buy the best slide rule they could afford. The professor told them, 'You will be dependent on it all your professional life.' Nanus dutifully bought a slide rule. Yet after he graduated and went on to MIT, he never used it. The calculator had taken its place." Things that today we consider indispensable may quickly become obsolete. Tomorrow they may be discarded as relics that cannot provide the help we need.

But at least one thing from the ancient past will always be needed and never become obsolete. It is the BIBLE, God's Holy Word. No matter how much technological change and progress takes place, that Book will remain the one sure means for getting the right answers to the complicated questions of our origin, our purpose, our behavior, and our ultimate destination." So keep a Bible handy. You'll always need it." (VCG)

The Bible is a treasure house, Where we will always find.
The things we need from day to day For heart and soul and mind. (Anon)

The Bible May be old, but its truths are always new.

Famine of the Word of God

"Behold the days come saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." (Amos 8:11,12)

Some believers may be ready to say about this, If we are deprived of all the Lord's "gifts," we still have the Bible. True, but there is another side to this, How many are there who read the Bible as a routine and get nothing for their souls? Why is this? Are we not told that Moses and the prophets were read in the Jewish synagogue every Sabbath day? so that with the Scriptures in their hands, and read at stated intervals, there was such a famine of the Word of God, that they knew not Him of whom the Scriptures which they read spake, but actually fulfilled the same in condemning Him. "If any man hear MY voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with ME." (Revelation 3:20) (H.H.S.)

Yet it Lives

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."
(Matthew 24:35)

Generations follow generations - yet it lives.
Nations rise and fall - yet it lives.
Kings, dictators, presidents come and go - yet it lives.
Torn, condemned, burned - yet it lives.
Hated, despised, cursed - yet it lives.
Doubted, suspected, criticized - yet it lives.
Damned by atheists - yet it lives.
Exaggerated by fanatics - yet it lives.
Misconstrued and misstated - yet it lives.
Ranted and raved about - yet it lives.
Its inspiration denied - yet it lives.
Yet it lives - as a lamp to our feet.
Yet it lives - as a light to our paths.
Yet it lives - as a standard for childhood.
Yet it lives - as a guide for youth.
Yet it lives - as an inspiration for the matured.
Yet it lives - as a comfort for the aged.
Yet it lives - as food for the hungry.
Yet it lives - as water for the thirsty.
Yet it lives - as rest for the weary.
Yet it lives - as light for the heathen.
Yet it lives - as salvation for the sinner.
Yet it lives - as grace for the Christian.
To know it is to love it.
To love it is to accept it.
To accept it means Life eternal.
(Author Unknown)

Authority of the Word

"Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)

The moment I require anything to establish the authority of the Word, I take the authority of the Word away; for the thing rested on is, of course, that which is supposed to establish the Word, and not the Word itself. If I take anything as proving the Word of God, and so believe it, that is not believing the Word. (J.N. Darby)

Mysteries of the Bible

". . . some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16)

A plain farmer said to a skeptic, "The mysteries of the Bible do not bother me. I read the Bible as I eat fish. In eating fish, when I come across a bone, I do not try to swallow it, but I lay it on one side. When, in reading the prophecies, I come across that which is inexplicable, I say, 'There is a bone,' and I lay it on one side. When I find something in a doctrine that staggers my reason, I say, "That is a bone," and I lay it on one side." Alas! that men should choke themselves to death with bones of mystery, when there is so much meat in this Bible on which the soul may get strong for eternity. (T. De Witt Talmage - Born in 1832)

Precious Treasure

"The Lord gave the WORD: great was the company of those that published it."
(Psalm 68:11)

Holy Bible, Book divine!
Precious treasure, thou art mine!
Mine, to tell me whence I came;
Mine, to teach me what I am.

Mine, to chide me when I rove;
Mine, to show a Saviour's love;
Mine thou art, to guide my feet;
Mine, to judge, condemn, acquit.

Mine, to comfort in distress,
If the Holy Spirit bless;
Mine, to show by living faith,
How to triumph over death.

Mine, to tell of joys to come;
Mine, to show the sinner's doom;
Holy Bible, Book divine!
Precious treasure, thou art mine!

(Author unknown)

Living Reality in our Souls

"Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron . . .and from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir;now the name Debir before was Kirjath-sepher." (Judges 1:10-11)

Hebron means communion, and Kirjath-sepher, the name of the nearby city associated with it, means "city of the book." This calls to mind the precious Book, the Bible, which we are to conquer. Conquer the Bible? Yes, we are to take possession of it and make it for ourselves a Book of delight, a Book that speaks to us of God.When this city of Kirjath-sepher was taken, its name was changed to Debir, which means "word of God."

To have the Bible become the word of God to us, that is a victory! When we take possession of the Word of God, make its doctrines a living reality, use it as the voice of God speaking to His people, then praise, worship, and joy are unhindered, and we will have power being made increasingly manifest.

Alas! the Church has not done that and has forsaken the doctrines right away. As a result, darkness and failure have come in.So it is also for us personally. Suppose you or I keep the Book closed, or cling to the mere letter of the Word instead of to its living reality.

What is the result? There is no further progress, no further growth, and the preaching we solicit is that which will cater to the taste of the natural man. That is the sad state of the Church.Thank God for every exception to this. Remember then, this one point, namely, that what makes anything secure for us is the supremacy of truth. Truth must be supreme if there is to be recovery to God and power for God. We must get the truth again, that is, the Word of God, and make it a living reality in our souls. (S. Ridout)

The Book for ALL Ages

"But the Word of the Lord endureth forever." (1 Peter 1:25)

The narratives of the Bible are not merely inspired records of what actually occurred, but presentations of great principles of action and types of character; living illustrations of human nature and of the world; mighty moral truths which have their application in all ages of man's history, and in all stages of man's condition. It is of the utmost importance that we should take this large and comprehensive view of Holy Scripture, else we shall regard the inspired volume merely as a book of one age, instead of THE BOOK for all ages. (Extract)

Unfailingly True

The Word of God came not by the will of man but rather is addressed to all with authority from God. It is the only book in the world whose prophecies are unfailingly true, because man cannot tell the future. It is also the only book that the natural man cannot understand. It is not written so as to work on the emotions and does not record the physical characteristics of Christ or the Apostles but rather gives us their moral features.

There is nothing in Scripture contrary to reason - yet it does contain what is beyond reason, and must necessarily do so, because it comes from God. It brings together the answer to the truth of Light and Love and nothing is needed outside the Word to receive life, or to walk in godliness.

http://dondegr8.tripod.com/wordoftruth/index.blog?topic_id=1310

No Ordinary Book

"I have given them Thy word, and the world hath hated them . . . I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. . . . Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."
(John 17:14,15,17)

The Bible. This majestic Book, well named, The Book of Books, is not an ordinary book. It is the one, outstanding, unique Book in possession of the entire human race, read by increasing millions in hundreds of languages. It is the Book of glory; for it has a glory which no other book in the wide world has, nor ever can have. It is the Book of eternity, for it reveals what man by searching could never know, the decrees of a Sovereign God made before the foundation of the world. It lifts the veil of eternity to come and reveals the destiny of mankind, and the future manifestation of God as Creator in producing a new heaven and a new earth.

It is the Book in which God comes down to man, even down into the deepest misery, sin and human helplessness, to meet his need, and to bring him back, not into an earthly Eden, but as a member of the family of God, into the Father's House above. It is the Book of power. If what Jeremiah said is done, "Thy words were found and I did eat them," if that blessed bread come down from heaven is taken and absorbed, it will give strength and power to live, to serve, to suffer, and to die. It will guide and direct; it will wipe our tears away. (A.C. Gaebelein)

Standard of Obedience

"Thou shalt make no covenant with them (nations)."
(Deuteronomy 7:2)

Nothing can ever afford a warrant for lowering, the breadth of a hair, the standard of obedience to the Word of God. If there are difficulties in the way, if perplexing circumstances come before us, if things crop up for which we are not prepared, and as to which we are unable to form a judgment, what are we to do? Reason? Jump to conclusions? Act on our own or on any human judgment? Most certainly not. What then? Wait on God; wait patiently, humbly, believingly, and He will assuredly counsel and guide. "The meek will He teach His way." Had Joshua and the princes acted thus, they never would have made a league with the Gibeonites; and if we act thus, we will be delivered from every evil work and preserved unto the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (C.H. Mackintosh - Notes on Deuteronomy - 1879)

Clear Testimony

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
(Romans 3:23)
"The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God'." (Psalm 14:1)

There is in the Bible a vast reservoir of testimony for the honest, searching heart; but all its proof and detailed evidences cannot convince a man against his will, when his will is set against God. "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." (John 5:40)

The Bible is unjustly criticized on many points, but it is doubtful if it has ever been accused of vagueness or wishi-washiness. In fact, its out-spokenness has probably been the greatest single contribution to its unpopularity. It takes an honest and opened heart to accept the Bible's testimony; for those who are inclined toward flattery, or who close their eyes to their true selves as guilty sinners, won't like what the Bible says to and about them. Yet, it is the only source - the only Book that really "tells it like it really is." (Jim K - From the Christian Newsletter - C.T. - Vol. - 23 - August 1970)

There it Stands

"For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)

The Bible - There it stands
Century follows century - There it stands.
Empires rise and fall and are forgotten - There it stands.
Dynasty succeeds dynasty - There it stands.
Kings are crowned and uncrowned - There it stands.

Storms of hate swirl about it - There it stands.
Atheists rail against it - There it stands.
Profane, prayerless punsters caricature it - There it stands.
Agnostics smile cynically - There it stands.
An anvil that has broken a million hammers - There it stands.

The flames are kindled about it - There it stands.
The arrows of hate are discharged against it - There it stands.
Radicalism rants and raves against it - There it stands.
Fogs of sophistry try to conceal it - There it stands.
The tooth of time gnaws, but makes no dent in it - There it stands.
(Anon)

Read it Daily

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed" (John 8:31)
"Great peace have they which love Thy law, and they shall have no stumbling block (nothing can make them stumble)" (Psalm 119:165).

Here is my greatest secret for everyday common folks, known through the ages, and yet ever needing to be restated and learned afresh as generation succeeds generation. It is this: The very best way to study the Bible is simply to read it daily with close attention, and with prayer to see the light that shines from its pages, to meditate upon it, and to continue to read it until somehow it works itself, its words, its expressions, its teachings, its habits of thought and its presentations of God and His Christ into the very warp and woof of one's being.
No there is nothing remarkable about that; it is wonderfully simple. But it works, and one does come in this way to know the Bible and to understand it.
What appears to a beginner as a great knowledge of the Bible is thus often only the natural result of a persevering use of the simplest of all means and methods, namely, reading the Book, day by day, until it becomes extremely familiar in all its parts. (Selected)

Great Book

"Thy Word IS..." (Psalm 119:105)

When I am tired, the Bible is my bed;
Or in the dark, the Bible is my light.
When I am hungry, it is vital bread;
Or fearful, it is armour for the fight.
When I am sick, 'tis healing medicine;
Or lonely, thronging friends I find therein.

Does gloom oppress? The Bible is the sun;
Or ugliness? It is a garden fair.
Am I athirst? How cool its currents run!
Or stifled? What a vivifying air!
Since thus thou giv'st thyself, Great Book, to me,
How should I give myself, Great Book, to Thee!
--A.R. Wells

When we walk in uprightness, the Scriptures seem full of promises; but when we walk in unrighteousness, they appear replete with threats.