Manna in the Morning

Understanding is so important. Here’s a good example: A college student took his girlfriend to her very first football game. After the game, he asked her how she liked it.

“I really didn’t understand the game at all,” she said, “and there was one thing that I especially did not understand: why would these otherwise intelligent men try to kill each other for 25 cents?”

Her confused boyfriend asked, “25 cents? What are you talking about?”

“All they were doing the whole game through,” the girlfriend explained, “was screaming at each other to GET THE QUARTERBACK, GET THE QUARTERBACK!”

To be sure understanding the terms of a game that we are not familiar with can present its own confusion. But, I think there is a greater challenge: trying to understand why God loves me... trying to understand that the Creator of the Universe wants to have a relationship with me... trying to understand why so many people have turned away from the God who loves them so much. A great theologian was once ask about the greatest theological truth he had ever discovered... to which he replied, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”

There is a great verse in the Psalms that should encourage each of us in our daily walk. It’s Psalm 37:23—“The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Now, I think all of us would agree that life can get very confusing at times. We face decisions that challenge our commitment to Christ. Sometimes we are not sure which way to go. The Psalmist is reminding us that when our lives are lived in a godly fashion that God will give us guidance through His Word and His Spirit. With the Word of God as “a lamp for my feet and a light for my path,” we need not fear what’s around the next corner. God is ever ready to offer us His wise leading and counsel. With His help readily available we don’t need to be anxious about our journey. So, today let’s let God guide our steps... we will not be disappointed!

It is reported that Gertrude Stein asked on her deathbed, “What is the answer?” Then, after a long silence asked, “What is the question?” When one reads the Bible a number of very important questions become known. Such as, “What is man profited if he gain the whole world but loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26) “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) “What is truth?” (John 18:38) “What does a man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3)“Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) “What shall I do with him you call the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:12) “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) We would do well to ponder and respond to the questions that the Bible raises. There is coming a day when all questions will have been asked and all the answers will have been given. Don’t be caught with unanswered questions. Jesus is the final answer!

Hebrews 4:12 says, "...the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." What an amazing Book we are privileged to study and to share! Yet, all too often we let days go by without opening the Bible. On Sundays we are negligent in taking our personal Bible with us to Bible School and Worship. Some never study the Bible except to find ammunition to prove a point or win an argument. What would happen if we really and truly took the Bible seriously...for what it is...God’s Word to us? I read recently a very disturbing comment made by Mahatma Ghandi, "You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down, and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of good literature." Why not begin your day to day with a renewed commitment to spend time with the best book in the world—God’s Holy Word?

The nineteenth Psalm describes how David loved God’s Word. Do you love God’s Word like this? “The law of the LORD is perfect reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear giving insight to life. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them.” (Psalm 19:7-11)