God's Word

GOD’S WORD

September 16, 2020 // by Norman Drummond// 1 Comment

God speaks to us in many ways. I believe His primary communication comes from what He has already said to us in His word. He speaks directly to us from the Bible. Every time we open its pages and open our hearts to receive it, God is there. Reading God’s word begins not a monologue but a dialogue between God almighty and those who believe in Him.

In my blog I have been and will continue to focus on one verse of scripture. I know that Philippians 4:8 does not stand alone. It is connected to and part of the entire gift that is our Bible. I am merely attempting to practice the instruction given there but fully recognize our need for the whole. Sometimes we read our Bible without ever stopping to breathe in deeply any of it. Philippians 4:8 is a good place to take a deep breath.

But, while on the subject of what we believe about God’s word, allow me to cite what I believe.

“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.” (Baptist Faith and Message 2000)

“Christians affirm the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible because God is ultimately the author of the Bible. And because God is incapable of inspiring falsehood, His word is altogether true and trustworthy. Any normally prepared human literary product is liable to error. But the Bible is not a normal human project. If the Bible is inspired and superintended by God, then it cannot err.” (Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C. Sproul)

When God’s speaks to me from His word and tells me to “Think about these things,” I am compelled to value the instruction as something He wants me to do. It is part of my training. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (1 Timothy 3:16-17).

Finding Peace

September 5, 2012 // by Norman Drummond// Leave a Comment

Great grief and distress can come while waiting for something longed and hoped for. Even waiting for something we believe is a desire placed in our heart by our heavenly Father can cause an emotional roller coaster ride of excitement, disappointment, confusion, depression, anger, submission, hope, high expectation, exhilaration, disappointment, confusion, depression and so on. One may reach the conclusion that for peace’ sake one must give up desiring and hoping. Our desire for peace may become a far greater need than the desire for the thing wished. How long will we wait for an answer? How long will we wrestle with unanswerable questions? How long will we languish in anguish and unrest?

So, we quit. We give up. Then come new questions. Is it lack of faith that has ruled? Am I right to give up or have I acted contrary to all I believe about patience, God’s timing, and His promises to those who keep the faith? What about Bible stories of those who waited years for fulfillment of promise before giving birth, rising to power, receiving sight, reaping reward, or other answer to prayer?

But, maybe I should never have wished it? What if I am asking in vain because I ask for wrong reasons? What if I have judged wrongly my grief and distress? Maybe they are not for doubting but tempering. Maybe the thing wanted cannot be received with humility and gratitude apart from a journey down some long arduous road. Maybe what is desired could not be powerfully embraced without strength born from struggle. While these new thoughts begin to lift my spirit, and a fresh breeze brushes by as I rise to a pilgrimage peak, I fully expect my mood soon to turn dark and dive to new lows as before. How can I ride the rising and falling of emotion and dismiss the need to cry, “Stop! Let me off!” ?

Our reasoning and questioning outside of scripture can give a sound beating and provide sleepless nights. When we bring our thinking back for fine tuning by God’s Word, our spirit can be restored and peace returned. The Psalmist guides us to God’s green pastures and still waters with this assurance.

Psalm 37: 3-9 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

Apply your Word, O Lord, to my head, heart, feet and seat, that I may rest in your promises and fret no more. Your Holy Word matters to me. Amen!