[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Friday, October 25, 2013

[Paul]

Well folks, it's another Friday and time to look forward to the weekend, whether one does that with trepidation or relief.  Here in the U.S. those of us who follow our favorite college football teams are anxiously waiting for the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, and others, I'm sure, have their own Saturday activities that they enjoy.  As for me, my Saturdays are usually open-ended, except every other week when I go with my neighbor Cliff to our local Christian-owned Korean deli for the best breakfast in my neighborhood, in my opinion.  Whatever you have planned for that particular day, I hope it will be a satisfying one for you and yours.

An author by the name of J.O. Grooms wrote some years ago in a publication called "Fundamentalist Journal" an article which I'd like to present to you today.  It's entitled "How To Be Happy, Wise and Successful" and is rendered as follows:

There is in the heart of every human being a desire to be happy, to be wise and to be successful.  The key to achieving this threefold desire is found in Joshua 1:8:  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." In Psalm 1:2-3, we have the promise that those people who delight and meditate in the law of the Lord will prosper and bring forth fruit.

If you are willing to invest just ten minutes every day in Scripture memorization, God can change your life in ways you never dreamed possible.

There are many reasons why it is essential that you meditate on Scripture daily and hide it away in your heart and mind.

DIRECT COMMAND:

Because we are Christians, we are not our own.  We have been bought with the precious blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and should love to obey God.  In John 14:15, we read, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." In Deuteronomy 6:6, we are commanded to hide God's Word in our heart, "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart." The psalmist said, "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97).

SPIRITUAL CLEANSING:

We are told in II Corinthians 10:5 to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." When a Christian meditates upon Scripture and thinks about those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, his thought life is transformed.  Jesus said, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3).  How can men and women cleanse their ways? "By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word" (Psalm 119:9).  How can a Christian live victoriously? The answer is found in Psalm 119:11, "Thy Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."

PRAYER ANSWERED:

Our God is delighted to hear and answer the prayers of His children when they are in right relationship to Him.  Jesus said in John 15:7, "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

WISDOM:

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:  the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7).  The person who meditates day and night in the Scriptures is, without even knowing it, receiving wisdom from God.  "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130).

PEACE AND JOY:

In a day and age when there is little joy in our world, God has promised deep peace and joy to those who will meditate upon Him and His Word.  The weeping prophet Jeremiah said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart:  for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16).  We are promised that, "Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165).

SOULWINNING:

The Word is essential in the salvation of souls:  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17).  Peter said, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (I Peter 1:23).  You cannot be the soulwinner God desires you to be unless you know His Word.  It is the Word of God that is quick and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).  The greatest asset to the soulwinner is to be able to recall the necessary verse of Scripture as the need arises.

The reading, studying and memorizing of Scripture is of vital importance to growth and effective witness in the Christian life.  Begin memorizing Scripture today and watch as God blesses you and transforms your life through Scripture memorization.

And there you have Brother Grooms' article which I trust was a blessing to you.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought Message for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul