My mission yesterday was to collect some interesting stones to refashion our garden fountain, so, in the beautiful mid afternoon, we headed for Ruby Bay just half an hour away. I seemed to remember that it had a nice variety of coloured stones. However, when we drove up to the beach I wondered if I had been wrong, because from just a few yards away it looked quite ordinary with a general ‘beach grey’ look. Maybe I wouldn’t find my pretty stones here after all.
As we walked with eyes down, looking for colour, we found it! I’d taken a shopping bag and it was getting increasingly heavy and Col was saying “I think that’ll be enough”, but then we’d find one more! This morning as I put the stones into my re-purposed birdbath, I found that we had collected just about the right amount, and an amazing variety of stones.
That beach was a bit like God’s word. From a distance it looks like a whole lot of words on a whole lot of pages, but as we look more closely it’s a treasure chest of gems – life stories, battles, victories, failures, wisdom, poetry, songs, love stories and so much, much more.
If we look from a distance we only see words…..probably many more than we want to read! However, for the diligent it is a never-ending delight which I like to call “The Maker’s Handbook”. The writer of Psalm 119 was so convinced of the truth and goodness of God’s word that he wrote 176 verses on the subject!
Because God’s word is life and truth, it can only do us good, and lead us along the path to eternal life and joy which God planned before time began. Jesus said in Luke 4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” It is food for our soul. Psalm 19:7 says “The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
I love knowing God’s word in these uncertain days because it tells me what is coming and what is to be expected, so instead of being fearful, I have a peace and assurance that God is in control, and that in the end……He wins! Ask God to give you a desire to read His word.
Prayer: O God, you are the source of all wisdom and you have revealed your wisdom and your ways to us in your word, the Bible. Help me to have a heart to seek your truth and love your word because your ways are life and peace. Amen
