Tag: read the Bible

  • Squirreled Away

    Store up God’s Word in your heart.

    Grey Squirrel

    We often get a pair of squirrels visiting the feeder in our  backyard. They never come together, but we frequently see them as a pair elsewhere. The male is jet black and the female is gray.

    She’s the tamest of the pair and will often stay around if I talk to her or move slowly. On the other hand, as soon as I’m near, he takes off like a shot.

    We often see squirrels on our walks in the various local area parks, and I like to take pictures of them. This one was used to being fed and was quite determined to get us to give him a treat. He failed, but I did get to photograph him.

    Thinking of squirrels brought to mind the old expression “Squirreling away.” One dictionary defines this verb as: “to stash or hide; to hoard, collect, save, or accumulate; to create a reserve, stash, or hoard of some supply, so as to recall a squirrel’s burying of nuts.”

    Most of us squirrel away something. We might save a little cash away for a rainy day. Perhaps we have a secret stash of a favorite treat for one of “those” days.

    The bible speaks of us squirreling something away, although it doesn’t use that term

    I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 ESV

    For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Hebrews 8:10 ESV

    And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV

    I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8 ESV

    God’s truth, love, and Spirit are squirreled away in our hearts.

    We strengthen those hiding places through regular prayer, worship, and fellowship. We entrench them further by reading and memorizing His Word.

    If you found yourself in a situation where the Bible was not handy or available at all, how much could you bring to mind?

    Read the Word and commit it to memory, Squirrel away His truth in your heart.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Read the Good Book

    stack of old books

    Books, books, books. If you have been reading  Gleanings for any length of time, you will know that I have a passion for books. In particular, I have a weakness for good conservative evangelical books, particularly old ones. 

    I have rescued many from destruction and appreciate their scholarly insights. Finding sufficient bookshelf space around our home has always been a challenge.

    Since my retinal detachment and repair, I have been reading most of my books on my devices, where I can adjust the font size as needed. Still, I have gathered a growing collection of Large-print books.

    Having said all of that, I must also warn you there can be a real danger to books as well. Many cults add the works of their leaders as required reading, equal to or elevated above the Bible as truth. These books often detail “THE” way to salvation. 

    Be wary of these books. The Bible needs to be the foundation. Even with my passionate weakness for good theology books, the Bible always comes first.

    The Bible is the source of all information needed for salvation. The information alone is not sufficient; the Holy Spirit must work in us to convict us, but no additions to what is claimed in Scripture are required,

    Be very cautious of any church whose traditions or writings are equal to or elevated above Scripture. That should be a huge warning light to any believer.

    The Bible contains all the principles needed to be our guide to living life. 

    Other books may help clarify and offer great insights, but once again, we need to use Scripture as our foundation. Again, the Holy Spirit can be a great guide, but if it is the Holy Spirit (and not something else) speaking, He will never guide us in a direction contrary to the Word.

    Be wary of any church whose rules and regulations for living place themselves above Scripture. This, too, is a danger sign.

    The Scriptures are our operating manual for life. They are not in error and do not need a “best before” date. They are timeless, as God Himself is timeless.

    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

    For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 NIV

    What does it mean to be God-breathed? It means they contain the very life breath of God. God breathed life into Adam in the garden (see Genesis 2:7). The Bible is not only “inspired”; it is “exhaled” by the very lips of God Himself. No other book can honestly make that claim.

    Good and godly people can and have written good and godly books. I think of people like Matthew Henry, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, G. Campbell Morgan, Adam Clark, some of the Puritans, and even many of today’s authors, as well as many more.

    They have much to teach us, but their writings are not the very living breath of God. I love their writings dearly but always return to Scripture as the foundation.

    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 NIV

    Until next time, may the living Word of God be your source.

    Kevin

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