Morning By Morning #52

God has said…

Hebrews 13:5

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

If we would only grasp these words by faith, we would have an all-conquering weapon in our hands. What doubt could not be slain by this two-edged sword? What fear could there be that would not fall victim from a deadly wound inflicted by an arrow from the bow of God’s promises?

Wouldn’t the troubles of this life, the pain of death, our hidden secret sins, the traps of Satan, trials sent from above, and temptations sent from below all seem as “light and momentary troubles” (2 Cor. 4:17) when we hide ourselves beneath this fortress: “God has said”? Yes, whether for the purpose of joyful delight in times of quiet or for strength in conflict, we must find our daily refuge in the words: “God has said.” May this teach us how important it is to “diligently study the Scriptures” (John 5:39).

In fact, there may be a promise in God’s Word that exactly fits your situation, but if you do not know it, you will miss the comfort it could bring. At times you may be like a prisoner in a dungeon with a key chain full of keys, knowing one of the keys would unlock the door and bring you freedom. Yet you remain a prisoner because you refuse to look for the key, while all the time your liberty is so close at hand.

The perfect, powerful medicine for your cure may be in the vast pharmacy of Scripture, but you will remain sick unless you will examine and “diligently study the Scriptures” to discover what “God has said.” Besides simply reading the Bible, shouldn’t you be continually filling the memory banks of your mind with the promises of God? You can recall the sayings of great men and have committed to memory many verses of famous poets, but shouldn’t you be proficient in your knowledge of the words of God? Shouldn’t you be readily able to quote them when you have a difficulty to solve or when you need to overcome a doubt?

Since the phrase—“God has said”—is the source of all wisdom and the fountain of all comfort, determine to let it richly dwell in you as “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Then you will grow healthy, strong, and happy in your Christian life.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Many people do not realize the tremendous power there is in God’s Word. “The Father…does not change” (James 1:17), nor does His Word—but His Word changes lives! In fact, it is what gives us spiritual life, for “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth” (James 1:18).

“The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). To access the power of the Word, however, we must know it. The Lord told Moses, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deut. 6:6 – 9). Yet the Lord promises His help as well:

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jer. 31:33).