What does the Bible say about hope?
An accurate Biblical definition for hope, is "Confident Expectation." Unlike wishful thinking, hope is a rock solid assurance regarding things that are unclear, along with things that are unknown.
1 Peter 3-4 says,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
Without hope, we would not have meaning for our lives here & now … and we most certainly would be completely distraught in anticipation for what’s going to happen after we die at some point in the future.
Romans 8:24-25 says,
“For in this hope we were saved by faith. But hope which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.”
As follower’s of Christ, our future is guaranteed by the reality of having the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us, and direct us, and to help us make wise decisions day-by-day.
Ephesians 1:13-14 says,
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.”
Rather than crossing our fingers and wishing with all our might to the universe, or Karma, or maybe just good old fashion luck … for our list of issues (that we all have) to suddenly be resolved … wouldn’t it be far better to take to heart what Paul said here in Titus 3:4-7?
“When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
Is hoping for something and wishing for something the same?
We’re all born with free will, along with passions, and emotions, and hopes, and dreams. Oftentimes a wish can precede a change in our current circumstances that we prefer would be different.
From a Biblical frame-of-reference, wishing for change isn’t necessarily wrong, as long as it’s based on truth … and ultimately aligns with God’s will for us.
Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:9-10,
“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
When pleasing the Lord in everything we think and do is our top priority … He has a supernatural way of adjusting our wishes.
Psalm 37:4 says,
“Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
My beautiful bride Kimberly and I recently celebrated our 34th anniversary, and this was the verse we chose to start our lives together with on our wedding day.
More on the difference between what most people think about when they wish for something, compared to how the Bible identifies hope in the next post.
We can finish our race well IF we persevere and NEVER give up!
What are some of the things that could trip us up throughout our lifetime, and why is it absolutely imperative to have a reliable plan for how we can overcome the inevitable adversity we all face?
We’re warned and admonished in 1 Peter 5:8-9 to,
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”
The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 6:10-12,
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Who are we running our race for?
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God .”
If you’re currently not living (running your race) for Jesus, this would be a good time to ask the question, “Why not?”
Perhaps you recognized you needed a Savior many years ago and put your faith in Jesus … but you find yourself distracted and that active & dynamic relationship you first experienced has fizzled and seems out of reach.
The great news is we can all do what Hebrews 12 encourages us to do by, “Laying aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
I have my own list of trials and temptations that lurk at every turn of my race to distract me and keep me from a ‘No matter what’ commitment to finish my race strong.
We are literally all in this together, and I’d like to continue with some Scriptural encouragement over my next few posts for your consideration.
We have the freedom to choose, along with the ability to control what we think about!
Scripture provides us with a rock solid plan for dealing with being constantly bombarded with images and worldly messages that are diametrically opposed to how God commands us to think and act.
The Apostle Paul starts his list in Philippians 4:8 very strategically when he admonishes us to think about, “Whatever is true.”
How we identify truth is the baseline for our Biblical worldview, and consequently how we will respond to each and every decision we’ll make throughout our lifetime (no matter how great or however small they may be).
We would be wise to reject anything that does not draw us closer to Jesus, and His way of thinking!
May we commit to consciously focus our mind on whatever is true … and what is honorable … and what is right … and what is pure … and what is lovely … and what is commendable … and things that are excellent … along with the things that are worthy of praise.
And may we be eternally grateful for the Holy Spirit’s 24/7 presence who will help us to remain true to our convictions, which will ultimately allow us to glorify the Lord to the max.
Does the Bible instruct follower’s of Christ, surrounding how to specifically occupy our thought lives?”
The answer to the above question is a resounding, “Yes!”
The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:8,
“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things.”
Do you think it might be possible that we’re being desensitized by our cultural norms to doing the complete opposite of what God’s Word tells us to do?
If we were to take a daily inventory of how much mindless and counterproductive time we spend on our screens every day (phone, computer, social media, TV, etc.) … how would that align with what the Lord has clearly prescribed for how He wants us to discipline our thought life?
Please know that whatever convictions you may be feeling in this moment, are amplified in me even as I’m making this post!
Because the centering of our minds is such an integral and consequential aspect of how well we walk out our faith while living in this broken world … I will be diving deeper into Paul’s “Thought list” over my next few posts for all of us to ponder, consider, and to meditate on.
“Every word of God is True; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Proverbs 30:5
Since we live in a time and culture in which moral relativism has been popularized and accepted, it’s imperative as follower’s of Christ that we identify & discover truth … not define it on our own whim, our circumstances, or based on however we may feel from day-to-day.
As Proverbs 30 states, truth is rooted in the eternal, all-powerful, and unchangeable God. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we will experience a supernatural sense of peace that goes beyond the understanding of those living in the broken world around us.
It’s only natural to have doubts and have questions surrounding things that are right and true. If God’s truth is foundational to our spiritual lives … then we will trust what Psalm 33:4 says ,
“For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything He does.”
A good test for all of us to consider regarding the evidence that our lives are pointing to Scripture being our final authority, is: Do we allow God’s Word to convince us to believe what we don’t like … or perhaps what we’ve always wanted to believe … or even when it offends us?
As believers, our optimism is based firmly on reality and what is true
The best and the most perfect gift any of us has ever received, hands down and without a doubt, is Jesus! In Colossians 1:16-17 Paul says,
“For through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see —
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.”
Randy Alcorn once wrote, “If everything that comes into our lives is Father-filtered, how can we be anything less than optimistic? Our optimism is based squarely on realism: Jesus is real … atonement is real … Christ’s resurrection is real … heaven is real … and the gospel really is “good news.”
Another hero of the faith, Joni Eareckson Tada said, “It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. It is our glory to trust Him … not matter what.”
What does it mean to renew our minds, in a practical sense?
Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
I have to constantly ask myself how (not if) I’m conforming to the superficial values of this world. Then, I have the choice whether or not I’m going to continue to be in compromise of what I know is not God’s best for me. Or, through the power of the Holy Spirit to do what Paul says here in Ephesians 4:21-24:
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
According to God’s Word, we’re in a partnership with the Holy Spirit Who lives within us. One of our key roles in this supernatural and dynamic relationship is to let Him renew our thoughts and our attitudes.
Paul says in Colossians 3:9-10, “You have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
To help answer our original question of how we can renew our minds in a practical sense, look at what Jesus says here in John 17:16-18 as He’s actually praying to the Father for each one of us:
“They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
As we go to God’s Word and intentionally develop our understanding of the truth in Scripture … our minds will be renewed and changed by the Holy Spirit.
May our lives consistently reflect the reality of Christ’s love to those around us, along with His literal never ending presence within us!
Seeking Biblical satisfaction
One way to guarantee we’ll experience dissatisfaction in our lives, is to unduly want what we don’t currently have. It would be wise to stop thinking that satisfaction is going to come from having more.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”
The following definition of contentment is in alignment with what the Bible tells us: “A state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction, often characterized by a sense of being fulfilled with one's current situation and a lack of constant striving for more.”
It is possible to sincerely want and actually be content with what we already have! However, it’s totally counter cultural as we’re constantly bombarded by “The grass is greener mentality,” which goes something like:
‘Other people's lives or situations are significantly better than mine, leading me to a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction and a desire to change my circumstances … and believing that my ultimate happiness is certainly just beyond my current situation.’
Watch what happens when you intentionally want for less … and commit to stop comparing yourself to others … and truly be grateful for how the Lord blesses you.
May we take to heart what Jesus said here in Matthew 6:24-26:
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
How should we Biblically ‘vet’ our thoughts as they enter our brain?
We spend a fair amount of time here at MWM, discussing and trying to better understand how to honor the Lord by first of all, being committed to having our baseline for identifying truth, to be Jesus.
We all can probably agree that whatever comes to mind should not necessarily be deemed to be true. So, what’s a viable game plan regarding our thought life, or a process that will help us to ultimately land on objective reality … or truth?
Consider dynamically asking yourself as thoughts come in, does this please God, and does it fit His perfect will? Remember that we’re not our thoughts … it’s what we do with our thoughts that matters!
It will truly be a matter of disciplining our minds to not allow untrue or random thoughts to attach to our brain.
If we look at our brains as the hardware to our soul, meaning it’s programed with our thoughts … no doubt most of us would admit there’s plenty of room for improvement surrounding the vetting process we currently have in place.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
“We all live in glass houses,” so I’m speaking to myself as much as I’m trying to help others by recommending we all seriously take inventory of what we allow into our heads.
The old adage, “Garbage in, garbage out,” is a truism that if we take it to heart, and hold ourselves accountable to how we think … will certainly help us achieve a much more consistent mind-set that will ultimately glorify our Lord to the max.
Do you truly realize just how much God loves you?
Let this truth surrounding our Heavenly Father’s love for us from Psalm 103:10-13 sink in:
“He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.”
“For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His loving kindness toward those who fear and worship Him”
“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
“Just as a father loves his children,
So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him”
For all follower’s of Christ, the reality that our sins are forgiven and will never come back to haunt us … as well as having our fellowship with our Creator restored, should make us jump for joy.
For those who have thus far in their lifetime rejected Jesus, and His offer to pay the price for your sins, and save your soul … this message of eternal hope, love, & forgiveness, should motivate you to reconsider your decision, and choose to surrender ownership of your life to Christ.
An eternal relationship with God truly changes everything here and now!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you have, as we would love to help you in your faith journey any way we can.
What is the baseline that Jesus uses to identify truth?
The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was interrogating Jesus before passing judgment on Him in John 18:37-38:
“Pilate said, “So you are a king? Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
Then Pilate said, “What is truth?” I think that’s a question we all have to wrestle with!
Even though Pilate went on to say that he found no guilt in Jesus, and no crime or cause for accusation, he handed Him over to the Jewish leaders to be crucified.
In John 14:6 Jesus responds to a question Thomas had about where He was going, and He said this, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
The law of non-contradiction (If something is true, then the opposite of it is false) … is a very valuable tool to help us land on objective reality. For example; if I propose that a circle and a square are both a circle, I’d clearly be wrong.
In a day and age in which it’s popular and acceptable to define our own truth (surrounding just about everything) … we would be wise to follow Jesus’ lead, and accurately identify HIM as our baseline for objective truth!
May we all continue to search the Scriptures, and let them be our guide. It won’t mean our lives will become easier or more comfortable, but it does mean we’ll have what’s necessary to discern how we should go about living our daily lives based on what Jesus said of His followers …
“All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
Biblical communication principles
I don’t know about you, but I really dislike being put on the defensive. Consequently, I try to keep the “Golden Rule” on the forefront of my mind, which oftentimes helps me from putting anyone else on the defensive.
In Matthew 7:12 Jesus says, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Another good reminder, especially while in the context of a conversation with someone that can easily cross over to one or both becoming offended … it would be wise to have a plan in place to filter your thoughts through, rather than just saying whatever pops into your mind.
As a follower of Christ, consider having a brief conversation with the Holy Spirit who lives within you, and ask Him if what you’re thinking about saying is true. Then, follow His prompting.
Next, ask the Holy Spirit if whatever your thinking about saying is necessary in the moment to share. Then, proceed according to however He leads you.
The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:15 to, “Speak the truth in love.”
Without having a rock solid communication plan in place, it’s all but guaranteed that we’ll regret saying things that end up being hurtful and unnecessary.
Conflict resolution from a Biblical perspective has to do with us becoming more spiritually mature, by allowing the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us moment-by-moment.
Next time you’re tempted to lash out with words that you know won’t ‘land well’ … give yourself a brief time-out, check in with the Holy Spirit, and trust the next words that come out of your mouth will be kinder and more effective than whatever you would have said prior to seeking His counsel.
What does the Bible mean when it says someone becomes justified?
The Apostle Paul says this in Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
We can accurately view justification as being acquitted (being found innocent in a court of law) of the sinful nature we were all born with.
God declares us blameless before Him, and it’s the ONLY way to experience the joy of becoming reconciled with Him due to Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
God does not force anyone to become justified, yet it is necessary in order to be saved from eternal separation from Him.
Romans 3:22-24 says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
In order to be saved and justified and heaven bound, we must first acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son, and put all of our trust and faith in His finished work on the cross!
Jesus says this in John 3:35-36, “The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand. He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”
If you have yet to surrender ownership of your life unto Jesus and be liberated from the penalty of sin, please consider today’s message from God’s Word to be a ‘lifeline’ specifically for you!
God’s desire is for everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That includes you, no matter what you’ve done or how unworthy of His love and grace you may feel right now.
All you have to do is say “YES” to Jesus, and God will immediately declare you justified and set you free!!
It’s important to know Who we are grateful to!
I believe gratefulness that stems from a Biblical frame-of-reference keeps our hearts and minds in a right relationship with the giver of life Himself!
James 1:16-17 says, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
God should always be the central focus of our gratitude, as He is perfect and never changes! Our feelings can certainly change, as well as our circumstances changing constantly … yet, we can rely on the fact that God will never leave us or forsake us.
I’ve found it helpful to dynamically go through a mental list of very specific things I’m thankful to the Lord for. Especially when I’m tempted to complain and grumble about something I wished was different.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
Being thankful to the Lord should be a way of life for us as believers, and it would be great if it naturally flowed from our hearts and minds … evidenced by our actions.
In order for this to be a reality for me, I have to prayerfully go over items on my list and thank the Lord personally for each and every one of them.
That’s when I experience inner peace, along with a changed perspective that surpasses understanding.
May God be glorified as we respond to His everlasting presence with hearts of praise and thanksgiving!
What’s a Biblical way of testing our love for Christ?
Jesus says this in John 14:15-17, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
The crystal clear message from Jesus is, IF we love Him, then it won’t be any kind of a burden to live in obedience to what He’s shown us.
This is especially true for you and me, since the prophetic part of his statement came true after His resurrection from the dead … when we received the Holy Spirit after surrendering ownership of our lives to Him the moment we were saved.
We’ve been provided a supernatural Helper, and Comforter, and Advocate, and Counselor, and Intercessor, and Strengthener … Who is always available to help us overcome each and every situation and circumstance we face.
The Apostle Paul explains it this way in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.”
I’m so thankful for the way in which the Lord has chosen to communicate to all who will listen, just how He will help us by literally living within us!
We can overcome everything the world and our adversary the devil throws at us, IF we choose to obey the One who chose to die on the cross for our sins … so that we can live with Him forever!!
Our habits decide our future
The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
We must first identify and become aware of those habits that are holding us back from God’s best for our future (as well as for the present!), before we can overcome them with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Colossians 3:9-10, Paul says, “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
It takes more than just our will power, or behavior modification, or some 5-step program to break free from the ‘customs of this world!’ When we surrender everything to the Lord, He will be faithful to help us change the way we think.
Jesus provides us with the answer for how to change our thinking, and ultimately our life here in John 14:23 when He says, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.”
Now, it’s ultimately up to us … if/how we respond to this truth!
Is experiencing God’s peace conditional?
The Apostle Paul answers this question in Philippians 4:6-9 when he says, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.”
What’s the risk for us to work on and discipline our minds to ‘think continually on these things’ that Paul exhorts us to focus on?
Changing bad habits (being anxious and worrying) is never easy, but when we consider the rewards, like God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus … what in the world are we waiting for?!
Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to, “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” It’s up to each one of us to come to know God through His Word and to talk with Him in prayer. When we habitually do those two activities, our thoughts will more readily align with His, and so will our actions.
What happens when we commit to making God’s word a daily priority?
We can’t grow closer to the Lord through osmosis … defined as, “The unconscious absorption of information, rather than active learning or studying.”
Proverbs 4:20-23 says, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Even though God’s love for us is unconditional, He’s given us the responsibility to search the Scriptures, and then allow them to guide our thoughts, and our actions, and develop our character.
Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
If the Bible is truly given by God’s divine inspiration, then we should love the fact that He provided us with such a detailed ‘owner’s manual’ for us to study, and to obey, and ultimately to trust. Also, If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority surrounding every area of our life.
1 Peter 5:6-8 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
The fact that God gave us the Scriptures, is evidence of His love for us. The Bible contains everything we need to know about God so we can be in right relationship with Him.
Jesus says in John 13:31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” The reality that God’s holy Word will live on with us for all eternity … should be a huge motivating factor for all of us to thoroughly dig into it now, and allow His words to guide our steps day-by-day.