Abiding in the Word – our standard of Truth
Monday– by Craig Trierweiler
Read: Prov 30:5-6: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Devotion:
The doctrine of “inerrancy” is held sacred by the church. In simple terms, it means that we do uphold the Scriptures as “totally & completely true & without error.” It means that the historical and truth claims stand the test of time. It means that the promises and prophecies contained in it have been fulfilled or are awaiting fulfillment. It means that what the Bible says about God’s character is entirely accurate. It means that every we can take comfort with every assurance it gives regarding the person of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sin, the offer of salvation, and its glorious picture of life at the Resurrection where there will be no more death, tears, or suffering.
Proverbs 30 says it this way: “Every word of God proves true.” It’s not just “true” in an expansive way. It’s true in each particular. Not a word will fall to the ground. Not one prophecy or promise will ever fail. In the book of Joshua 21:45, it says: “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” So shall the Christian be able to say that! All come to pass. Each and every word of God proves true.
Proverbs also speaks to the expansive truth of God’s word when it warns: “Do not add to his words.” It’s the same warning given in Revelation 22:18, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.” In other words, when it comes to spiritual beliefs in areas such as God, man, sin, and salvation, let us make sure to stay contained inside the parameters of the Word. To be guilty of “adding” to his words, would mean to neglect a clear teaching of the Scripture and believe something that contradicts it. If anyone is guilty of adding to the word, Proverbs has a warning: God will rebuke them!
What comfort there is to know that “every word of God proves true!” What confidence there is that He is in charge of world affairs and that our greatest hope is not the next Presidential candidate, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who promises a coming Kingdom that will reign forever and ever!
Action Steps:
• Examine your Thoughts and Actions – Is there a thought pattern or belief system that needs to be changed? Is there a behavior or way of speaking that is contrary to His word that needs to be repented of?
• Write out a promise and carry it with you. Perhaps you are facing financial uncertainty – write out a promise (such as Philippians 4:6-7) that gives hope & confidence in the Lord. Perhaps you are doubting salvation – write out a promise (like Romans 8:1) that assures of salvation in Christ.
Prayer:
Abiding in the Word – our promise of Reward
Tuesday – by Craig Trierweiler
Read: Ps 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Devotional:
This is the Magna Carta of how the Bible describes itself: perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true! God’s Word is the law, the testimony, the commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, the rules of the Lord. It is altogether righteous, and altogether lovely. There is no question: those who fill their hearts with it and meditate upon it are richer than the richest kings of the earth. And those whose hearts are empty of it and fail to think upon it are more impoverished than the poorest of those in the slums of Calcutta.
Recently, there was widespread pandemonium about the “Powerball” lotto, which offered a lucky winner $1.5 Billion dollars. All across America, people were buying tickets in the faint hopes of winning the jackpot! Psalm 19 says this – that the Word of God is “more to be desired” than that! Practically, imagine it this way: imagine widespread pandemonium across America of people digging into God’s word. Imagine freeways being jammed on Sunday’s with traffic as people flooded to church just to get an opportunity to hear the Word of the Lord. This is how the Psalmist pictures the Word of God! What a treasure we have. What a tremendous blessing it is for those who read it and heed it!
And notice the promise for those who honor the Word and obey it: “In keeping them (the commands) there is great reward!” The rewards come in many ways. We have peace amidst uncertainty. We have joy amidst adversity. We have hope against all hope. We have confidence during instability. We eat blessings of sweet dripping honey while others drink from gushing springs of bitter water. I recently heard it put this way: Blessings follow Obedience. Indeed. The blessings of God follow obedience to God. The Lord will never default on his promises. He will never act against His contract. His word is His bond. His handshake is His oath. His sworn promises are guaranteed. He promises “Reward” to those who obey Him.
Action Steps:
• Obedience. Where is God calling you to obey? Perhaps the Spirit has been working in your heart and you have been resisting obedience. Resolve today to obey Him & delay no longer!
• Seeking. What reward are you waiting on? Perhaps you are seeking a financial reward for obedience when what you need to be seeking is Jesus! In your heart, resolve to seek Jesus as your highest reward. In His presence there is “fullness of joy” – and what a reward that is!
Prayer:
Abiding in the Word – our call to Action
Wednesday – by Craig Trierweiler
Read: Neh 13:1-3 “On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
Devotion:
Imagine this. A pastor gets up to read from God’s Word on a Sunday morning. Quoting Matthew, he read: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Instantly, 65 congregation members are ‘cut to the heart’ by this, realizing that they have offended someone and not sought forgiveness for their actions. So, before another second passes, 65 members of the congregation get up, slide out of their rows, and leave the assembly to go “make it right.”
That’s the type of instant obedience that happens in Nehemiah. They were reading the word of God – Deuteronomy 23 to be exact – and they heard the clear instruction for the Israelite assembly. In that moment, they look around and see sprinkled among their gathering people from Ammon or Moab descent. They immediately take action and walk in obedience to God’s word. No excuses. No delays.
The Scripture is clear: “today, if you here His voice, do not harden your hearts!” And “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” And “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it.” Now! Today! Do not delay! When God’s word is read or heard, it calls for immediate action. Not tomorrow. Not until a more convenient time. The moment of conviction is the moment of decision. There is too much lolly-gagging in Christian communities. Too many excuses are made. Like the men in Luke 9 who told Jesus they would follow Him, but said: “Let me first go” and do this, or that. My friends, when God’s word calls us to action, there ought to be no hesitation or second guessing. Just action.
Action Steps:
• Have you delayed obedience? Delayed obedience is disobedience. Repent and seek forgiveness today for the fear you have or unbelief regarding obedience.
• Call to obedience. Delay no longer. What Ammonite or Moabite do you need to put out of the assembly of your heart? What action has God been calling you to take? Take it today!
• Tithing & Generosity. My friend, there ought be no more delay regarding tithing. Less than 2% of Christians tithe, and everyone who doesn’t tithe has lame excuses. Admit it: we are greedy by nature and prone to selfish hoarding. We put our financial needs in front of honoring God. Truth be told, we trust in money more than we trust in God. It’s idolatry. It’s sin. And the first step is repent & obey. Trust God at His word. Honor him with firstfruits. Test Him in this. If you reject this council saying “Let me first go and…” you are disobeying. Now is the appointed time.
Prayer:
Abiding in the Word – our assurance of Growth
Thursday – by Craig Trierweiler
Read: Isa 55:10-11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Devotional:
Nearly every day of the week, I have the privilege of driving by Grand Traverse Bay and look at the beauty of freshwater God has given to us in Northern Michigan. As I write this devotional, I am looking out the window at snow-laden trees and a fresh coat of January snowfall which has graced the ground. Imagine our world without freshwater. Imagine our world without snow. Think of how gracious God is to give us snow and rainfall to freshen the earth and moisten the root systems, which enable the farmers to sow seed and yield crops. And just think: the Lord is merciful to all in the same way, causing his sun to shine on the just and unjust, and causing his rain to fall on the just and unjust.
The Word of God is likened to snow and water. It comes from the heavens. It lands upon the earth. And it accomplishes its purpose: food to bless humanity. Without it, the farmer would sow seed in vain. Without it, crops would shrivel. Without it, animals would soon be lean and humanity would soon wither. The way God has designed the world, we are entirely dependent upon Him for our sustenance. Ironically, even those who curse God or refuse to acknowledge his existence don’t recognize that every time they take a sip of water, they are drinking water from the Giver of water above who has chosen to mercifully refresh them, though they curse Him!
The Word always accomplishes its purpose. When it is read, heard, preached, or obeyed it causes growth. When the unbeliever is converted and looks to Christ for salvation, it is because the Word of God has watered their heart. When the believer repents and looks to Christ for forgiveness, it is because the Word has melted their heart. When a woman in comforted in her grief by the hope of Scripture it is because God has caused his merciful rain to fall. When a man in encouraged to grow in his generosity or treat people better at the workplace because of a sermon he heard, it is God who once again has caused rain to refresh the soil of his heart. Take heart my friend: God is the one who spoke these words in Isaiah. He promises to “accomplish His purpose” and to “succeed” in the thing which he sets out to do.
Action Steps:
• Sow the Word in someones life. Write a note to someone – or send an email – with Scripture you are praying for them. It may be the exact Scripture God uses to comfort their heart with.
• Trust His Word. It will not return empty to the Lord. Pray for prodigals who know the word, that they would come to their senses and remember the Word they learned long ago.
Prayer:
Abiding in the Word – an imperishable seed
Friday – by Kori Trierweiler
Read: 1 Peter 1:23-25 “…since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
Devotional:
This passage compares all the people of the world to the changeable and brief existence of grass. Wow, that’s a real ego buster. It goes on to compare all the greatness of man, his beauty, intelligence, great works, and mighty deeds with a mere flower that blooms for a short time and then is gone and remembered no more.
It contrasts the very limited “glory of man” with the valuable, superior, unfading, unchanging, everlasting Word of God. This Word, the Good News, that is available to you and me has existed long before we’re born and will endure long after we’re gone. Which begs the question: Do I have the same perspective as this passage does in the way that I think and act towards Scripture? Do I put more trust in people’s words, accomplishments and efforts than I do in the constant abiding Word of God? Whether I want them to or not my actions answer that question for me. I have to be honest here, when I look at this passage, my life does NOT line up here. My perspective about God’s Word does not match the obvious truth of this passage. Where am I investing my time, energy and thoughts of my mind? What do I read or watch or delight in more than pursuing the very Words of God? Have I even experienced the Word’s superior power or am I still ignorant of what this verse is hinting at here?
In light of this conviction I have a choice to make. I can do nothing about it and continue on with my life. Or I can repent and ask the Lord to change the way I think about the Word of God. I must ask Him to change me and help me see it and understand it the way He wants me to. God says: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” Lord, show us how to do that.
Action Steps:
• Ask the Lord to examine your ways. How much stock do you put into the reading, knowing and memorizing of the everlasting Word of God?
• Ask the Lord to bring to mind anything you are investing in that has little to no eternal value. What needs to be cut out of my life to make room for more worthy things?
• Brainstorm with the Lord about some ways (a reading plan, an accountability partner, start a memorizing team, decide on a “set in stone” quiet time) you can better invest in what God says is superior and everlasting – His Word.
Prayer:
Abiding in the Word – an active weapon!
Saturday – by Kori Trierweiler
Read: Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Devotional:
The Bible is like no other book in all of creation because the Word of God is ALIVE! The Spirit of God hovers over and within the Words of Scripture to make them breath life into us – living, active and powerful. Have you ever experienced this in your life? Where you’re reading a passage of Scripture, when a portion, a phrase or even just one word leaps off the page and takes a direct hit to your heart – for better or for worse. It examines your life in your current situation to teach, direct, rearrange and even rebuke you if need be.
As we interact with this living word it can change us – if we let it. It has the ability to reveal and expose the hidden sinful motives that we didn’t know were there. It also has the ability to cleanse, encourage and touch the deepest parts of our emotions. It can teach and uncover our deepest desires and God-given longings, teaching us about Who God is and who we are. It is a mystery that a passage written so long ago can all of a sudden become extremely personal, as if God wrote it exactly for me for such a time as this.
Hebrews 4:13 speaks of a time when everything that is hidden and covered up will be exposed and laid bare. All of us will give an account for everything that we have said and done. Why not invite the Lord to do this now in your life now as you read the Scripture? Let’s allow God to use The Bible to examine our lives, forgive us of our sins, and teach us by experience the great and amazing love with which He loves us. This is what happens as we read and experience the living Word.
Action Steps:
• Expect the Bible to speak to you and don’t stop reading until the Lord highlights a passage of Scripture that connects with your spirit.
• Ask the Father questions as you are reading the Bible and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask the Lord to give you a hunger and desire to drink of the Word and experience its life giving benefits. Talk to Him honestly about your desire, or lack of desire, over the book He has given you.
Prayer:
