Living by the Book

I'm currently reading a book by Howard Hendricks titled "Living by the Book".  In it he discusses how essential it is for us as Christians to be studying our Bibles.  The purpose of the Bible is to bring about spiritual growth in us.  Hendricks states it this way...

     The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image.  Not to make you a smarter sinner but to make you like the Savior.  Not to fill your head with a collection of biblical facts but to transform your life.

This needs to be our attitude.  So often I approach the word out of a sense of obligation or to become smarter, but my primary objective should be that of transformation.  I love Romans 12 when it talks about "being transformed by the renewing of our minds".  I must continually set his word before my eyes if I wish to be steadily transformed into his likeness.  Psalm 1:1-3 speaks of meditating on the word.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

or stand in the way of sinners 

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers. 

There is something powerful about meditating on God's word.  Not in the new age way that we have come to think of when we hear that word.  That has to do with emptying our minds.  God never commands us to empty our minds.  Instead he tells us to think on things that our pleasing to Him.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

I once heard someone say "You know what a man's made of when he is squeezed."  When I am squeezed I want Christ and his Word to exude from me not my sin and selfishness.  That can't happen if I am not continually putting his word in front of me.  May we endeavor to do that today and everyday.

Wrestling with Satan

I was reading the book of Jude this morning and I came across an interesting passage in verse 9 that I must have glossed over the previous times that I read this.
  

"But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (NASB)

Now I have no idea why they were arguing over the body of Moses, but the point of this verse seems to be that even Michael the chief of all the angels did not combat the devil in his own power, but said to him "The Lord rebuke you!"  

I have been going through some difficult times recently and have been wrestling with fear and condemnation.  It is so hard when you feel like you are pouring your heart and soul into something and it's just not working out the way that you would like.  Getting glimpses of progress only to see them quickly vanish.  All the while knowing the kind of hours and effort that I am putting forth only to hear "That's not good enough" and "What are you doing with your time?" 

As I read this passage I felt God saying, "I see your heart and your hard work and I will defend you."  It reminded me of the passage in Genesis 15:1 right before God makes His covenant with Abram.  He says to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward." What a glorious thought!  He is our shield, our very great reward.  May we never forget that.