Notes of Faith August 11, 2024
The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi: Beginning the Journey
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. —
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Before I (Kathie Lee) began my new job as co-host of the fourth hour of The Today Show in 2008, I felt the Lord tugging at my spirit with the words of Matthew 6:33: Kathie, seek first My kingdom and My righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I remember responding, “Lord, You know that’s what I am trying to do — put You and Your kingdom first in my life.”
Then I felt Him gently rebuke me: You’re not listening. I said to seek Me first!
“Lord,” I questioned, “do You mean first thing in the morning before anything else?” In my heart, I sensed His clear answer: Yes.
Wow. I already got up earlier than most — usually right before dawn. “Really, Lord?” I said. “Before I go into work?”
Yes. I felt Him tenderly remind me, As you begin your day, so goes your day.
So I began to wake up before 4:00 am and pray for an hour for my family members, friends, colleagues, world situations, and personal concerns. Then I would open the Bible and study God’s Word for an hour more, with my puppies and the birds outside my window as my only company.
As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless.
— Psalm 18:30
This new discipline soon became the best part — and my favorite part — of the day. Changing my morning routine has changed my life. I began not only to study the Word but also to memorize as much as I could so that Scripture would become a living, breathing part of me. No textbook needed, no study guide necessary — just the pure, life-giving, sustaining Word of God settled deep in my soul.
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 18:30:
As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless.
Friends, this is either a fact or a lie. There is no middle ground. This is why I have grown so passionate about learning what the Bible really says. If I am going to base my life on something, it has to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God! But how can we live the truth if we don’t even know it?
The word truth occurs in the Bible over 200 times. God places immeasurable value in it, and He longs for each of us to seek it, find it, and apply it to our lives. All too often we are so overwhelmed by technology, our personal dramas, and our endless ambition that we neglect to study God’s Word. Imagine how it breaks the heart of our heavenly Father, who loves us, when He sees us putting our energy into everything but the one thing that can bring us life.
Adapted from The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi, copyright Kathie Lee Gifford.
The Word of God, our Bible, is “the Word of God”. Some argue that it has mistakes, errors, in it. In the original language that it was written it has no errors for it is “the Word of God”. As man has taken that original and translated it, added his thoughts and interpretations to it, errors have indeed been placed into it. The problem with some people, no, many people is that they place themselves or someone else, over the Scriptures. You are certainly not without error. The Pope is not without error. He is a sinful man just like the rest of us. Truth! God’s Word is truth. Jesus said God’s Word is truth! Come down off the throne that you have placed yourself on and listen to the only thing in the world that is absolute truth. If you struggle with something that is in the Bible, learn what it says in the original language. If you still don’t like what it says…understand this…it is truth. Many things in God’s Word are painful to me because they point out my sin or things in life that I find hard to agree with or endure. That does not make them untrue. God is true, cannot lie, is faithful, always loves, seeks those that love Him. There is truth to be found, not in the things of the world, and especially your own thoughts of what is right and wrong, for you are a sinful person in need of a Savior. Jesus is the only One who can bring you to truth! Seek Him and His saving grace and know truth! It will take you into eternal life with Him. Placing yourself on the throne of truth will lead you into eternal suffering and punishment for not allowing truth to penetrate your hardened heart. Believe in the Word of God. Read the gospel of John as he describes Jesus as the Word of God who took on flesh, died, rose on the third day, ascended into heaven and is coming again to receive those that believe in Him. Read the Word. Know the Word. Believe the Word. It is the only truth you can depend on for life and that eternal!
Pastor Dale