“… treasured the words …”
“I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.”
There are some who come here, who want – maybe even need – some hints or helps getting into the Word; so let’s start with something simple … small tastes of the sweet honey of God’s Word.
Read the first chapter of Job. (I could copy it here – maybe I should – but I would prefer that you to read it from your Bible.) Once you read it … you will notice the character of the man named Job.
“This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.”
Even after he suffered the loss of all that had – all those he loved (except his wife, who will encourage him to curse God and die) … he refused to blame God or to live bitter.
“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”
Where does a man get that resolve … that faith … that strength of character? Is it possible that his “secret” was that he treasured the words of God … more than his daily bread … more than the sustenance that gave him life?
Can a man trust God’s Word to comfort his heart?
Can a man trust God’s Word to direct his steps?
Can a man trust God’s Word to fortify his determination?
Can a man trust God’s Word to purify his motives?
Can a man trust God’s Word to sustain his hope?
Job was a man deemed worthy of God’s trust – a worthy example of patient endurance. Of the several possible reasons for such strength – at least one must be that Job treasured God’s Word.
If I treasure the Word, as he did … may God work in me - enable me – to be such a man with that kind of resolve … faith … character.
What Word from God have you “treasured” in your heart? What nourishment have you found in His Word … more than your daily bread? (If you choose to respond, please type out the verse; because it will make it easier for some of my folks to “taste” it.)
November 26, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Rex,
Here’s one I hold on to. Ps. 125:2 “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.”
I don’t think it gets much better than that. I have known this passage for a long time, I have seen this passage so clearly in the last 6 years. No matter how great the enemy’s attack, he is not greater than my God. Because my God is faithful (Peter’s words, my experience) I am always loved, always cared for, always wanted, always protected.
And what really makes this special is that it’s not talking about the here and now, it’s talking about the eternal forever.
God Bless!
David
THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE HERE – AND FOR WHAT YOU SHARED HERE. “SURROUNDED” – NOT TO DESTROY BUT TO PROTECT. THIS IS THE THEME OF ELISHA’S VISION OF THE HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE SURROUNDING THE CITY. THIS IS THE CITY OF GOD COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN – SURROUNDED BY THE ALMIGHTY. MAY YOUR HEART AND MINE FEEL SUCH COMFORT – SECURITY TODAY. REX
November 26, 2007 at 8:34 pm
When I read that first chapter and remember that these are real people, with real heartache it is terrible. Within such a short time everything he has is wiped out … what he holds most dear is gone. But he does not curse God. The best part is that God knew him and knew his faith. He is the one that pointed Job out to Satan. How tragic … yet how amazing. I crumbled under such a small weight compared to Job. It didn’t take much for me to curse God. I did not treasure His words in my heart.
Exodus 14:14 has always been one of my favorites. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” I saw a movie once where the helpless girl was running behind the “hero” as they were being chased by the enemy. He said, “The safest place on this ship is behind me.” That’s what I picture when I read this verse. God never called me to fight … only to follow. In the end His Son is the one covered in blood from fighting … not me. Thank God He fights for me.
I know the verse, can quote and even explain what the verse means to me. But I need to begin to “treasure” his words. There’s a difference.
SNACK, I LOVE YOUR FAVORITE VERSE. GOD IS NOT GOING TO FIGHT ME – HE IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR ME. I GREW UP WITH THREE BROTHERS, WHO ON A REGULAR BASIS “WRASSLED” ME AROUND – BUT IF ANYONE ELSE SPOKE A WORD AGAINST ME – RAISED A HAND TO HURT ME – THEY FOUGHT WITH A FURY AND PASSION THAT PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK IN ORDER TO PROTECT ME. I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD DO THE SAME FOR THEM. GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE – ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HURT YOU – WANTS YOU TO “MAKE YOU PAY” – WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE ALMIGHTY. THEY WILL HAVE TO FIGHT GOD (AND ME) TO GET TO YOU. REX
November 26, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Job is my favorite book. I do not know how one man can go through all of that. Yet he stood firm on his faith in God. When he challenges God with the “why is this happening to me?” stuff….God reminds him who is in charge. I guess I can relate to that part…but Job is so much stronger than I have ever been. Where I think I’ve done everything wrong… Job holds on to the fact that he has done nothing wrong. He knew God’s will –revealed in His word…there’s no other way Job could have had so much faith! (Faith comes by hearing….)
The verse that has helped me get through times of confusion and doubt is Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight”. When I don’t feel like I know anything, cannot make sense of the world around me…I can trust God to help me. I can acknowledge that He is the one in charge and seek His will for my life. It’s not magic and answers don’t just pop up on signs in front of me….but He works things out…the right choice becomes more obvious to me…I can have peace with choices I have made.
I want to learn so much more about God…and the Word that He left for us. I am so thankful God has gathered this blogworld group together as a place to learn about Him!! Thank you Rex for “facilitating” it.
SHERRY, I LIKE YOUR FAVORITE VERSE. IT WAS THE THE FIRST VERSE THAT I EVER MEMORIZED OUT OF PROVERBS. BUT LIKE MANY THINGS I GET IT A LITTLE BACKWARD. I KEEP WAITING FOR GOD TO “MAKE MY PATH STRAIGHT” – WHEN I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL MY WAYS (IF IN ANY OF MY WAYS). BY THE WAY – CHECK OUT THE LIFE OF JOSEPH FOR A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A YOUNG MAN, WHO PUT YOUR VERSE INTO PRACTICE. NO WONDER HE ENDED UP SITTING ON A THRONE. REX
November 26, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” There’s the best treasure in the best place for the best purpose. And even though the glorious purpose we aim at…to not sin against our God…will find us falling so short, surely God is honored by us having such a purpose just the same. And surely aiming at that will help us grow towards it. But how I am longing for the day when I will flawlessly live by that purpose…for my God deserves such service.
One more thing…Rex, do you think Job ever got the “why” explained to him during his life on earth? Did God ever tell him that it was precisely because he was doing so well in his life that all his trials came upon him? I have brought plenty of misery on myself…but Job did good, got trouble and gutted it out. Amazing faith! Only a God like ours could form a man like Job.
DOUG, THE BELOVED FRIEND. I DON’T KNOW WHERE I LEARNED IT. I AM SURE THAT I HEARD IT FROM ONE OF OUR TEACHERS (RICHARD OR JIM – OR MAYBE IT WAS YOU): GOD NEVER ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WHY FOR JOB – BUT HE DID ANSWER THE WHO. AND THEREIN LIES THE UNFATHOMABLE TREASURE OF GOD’S WAYS. HE CREATES US – HE DISCIPLINES US – HE FORGIVES US – HE SANCTIFIES US – HE CONFORMS US INTO THE IMAGE OF HIS FIRSTBORN SON (AND HE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET US TO LOOK LIKE HIM). YOU ARE RIGHT – IT IS ALL AMAZING – ONLY A GOD LIKE OURS COULD FORM A MAN LIKE YOU. REX
November 26, 2007 at 8:36 pm
The following verses probably mean the most to me. I have been and sometimes still am crushed in spirit by things that have occurred recently in my life. Some of these things were my fault and some were not but God doesn’t care whose fault it was he only knew I was broken hearted. I have cried out to him and I BELIEVE that he will deliver me from these things. I thank God for these passages that have given me hope when I could find none doing things Barry’s way………
Psalm 34:17-18 (New International Version)
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
BARRY, I LOVE THE VERSE THAT YOU NOTED – MORE THAN THAT – I CHERISH IT!!! DURING DAYS WHEN I COULD NOT BREATHE – WHEN I COULD NOT HOPE – I READ IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HAD COMMITTED IT TO MEMORY YEARS AGO – BUT THERE WAS COMFORT WHEN I COULD SEE THE WORDS PRINTED “BLACK AND WHITE” ON THE PAGE. I NEEDED TO SEE IT … SOMEHOW THAT MADE IT MORE CERTAIN – I COULD NOT TRUST MY MEMORY. I CRAVED TO KNOW – TO BELIEVE – TO HOPE THAT THE LORD WAS CLOSE TO ME – WHEN I WAS BROKENHEARTED – EVEN WHEN IT DID NOT (DOES NOT) FEEL LIKE IT. THANK YOU FOR THE REASSURANCE. REX
November 26, 2007 at 9:29 pm
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us . . . ”
Ephesians 3:20
I have known this verse since my teens. My coordinator, Billy Wilson, put it into greater perspective for me when I was on the mission field. Even more than that, I have experienced it in my own life. When I have been to overwhelmed or too self-involved to really be still and pray in faith over the concerns in my life, when I have voiced thoughtless mutterings of “Please, God, get me through, let this be OK, just help!”, He provides the parting-the-Red-Sea-chariots-of-fire-walking-on-water version in response.
LISA, I LOVE HOW YOU PUT IT. WHEN I GET CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE (OR AN OCEAN AND AN ARMY) AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO … HE CAN AND WILL PART THE RED SEA FOR ME AND LEAD ME OUT ON DRY GROUND. WHEN I FEEL SURROUNDED BY “THE ENEMY” AND HAVE NO WHERE TO TURN … HE CAN AND WILL SURROUND MY WITH HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE – GREATER IS HE THAT IS WITH US THAN HE THAT IS THE WORLD. WHEN I AM DROWNING IN A STORM AND SEE NO HOPE … HE CAN AND WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO WALK ON WATER (EVEN IF HE HAS TO CARRY ME BACK TO THE BOAT). GOOD EXERCISE FOR MY HEART, LISA. THANK YOU. REX
November 26, 2007 at 11:45 pm
I have so many that I know hold on to and cherish in my heart – but some of the first ones that grabbed me and held on – and have carried me through good and bad times – would have to be the ones in Romans 8 – some of the first words that ever set me free and taught me about grace – some of the words that I would read daily and memorize so that I could make it one more day…
Romans 8:28 – 39 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
DENNIS, ARE YOU LISTENING? REALLY LISTENING? NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!!! YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION. I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE HANGING ON TO THAT!
I LOVE YOU, MY BROTHER – THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIMES (INCLUDING THIS ONE) WHEN YOU HAVE REMINDED ME OF THIS TRUTH – PROVED TO ME THIS TRUTH BY YOUR LOVE.
November 28, 2007 at 12:01 am
“Create in me a clean heart O God….A powerful prayer from David, one of my heroes from the ‘Word’. I can feel David’s hug as he greets me in Heaven. I can hear him wisper in my ear, “I know! I know!”
MIKE, “I KNOW! I KNOW! (THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO VISIT AND COMMENT HERE. REX