2001-11-01 - Which End of the Hammer?

I know there are many of you that can identify with this question. Maybe not to the extreme of not knowing which end of the hammer to hit the nails with, but that there are many common tools that are unfamiliar to you. If we could connect everybody, I'm sure everyone meets this description at one point or another. There are simply too many things for everyone to be even minimally familiar with all of them.

2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (NAS)

There are a vast number of references in the Bible - too many for most people to know even a significant fraction of the promises, warnings and parables that are contained inside. The major points are easy enough to collect and master. This is not to provide an excuse for a lack of Bible reading or study at all. It is up to us to hide the truths of scripture in our hearts. There may be a day when we can not have access to them as we do so freely today.

The character of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are evident with sufficient reading and study. But there are facets that, for we finite human beings, seem to be in conflict with one another. The abundant mercy and grace of God can seem to be at odds with the untimely death of a friend or a child. The consistency of God seems very, very far off at times like that. But God is still on the throne and in control. We must trust Him when all else, including our human ability to understand what is going on, fails.

I left a hammer up on the roof of my house over the winter one year. No wonder I couldn't find it! It was hidden from view and buried under snow several times. When I got it down, it was a little rusty but still quite useful. And with use, the shine began to return. It was wonderful to see.

The Bible is many things. It is indeed a love letter written to those who will call themselves His children or His people. The church is called the Bride of Christ - "and the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!'" - from the Revelation. What a promise and a responsibility! The Bible is also a tool and a reference. It is something that God has left us to help us get through the day to day struggles of life, both big and small. If yours has too much dust layered on it, please dust it off and start with a favorite passage. Get acquainted again. Find a regular reading time, 5-10 minutes a day is all. This is not a huge commitment. If you miss a day, don't make a big deal of it. Just get back to it the following day. As the tool becomes more familiar, as the rust begins to be swept away, the shine will return. Your spirit will be strengthened and the things that the Lord has already given to you will become yours.

Ps 121:1 A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come? ² My help comes from the LORD,Who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. ⁶ The sun will not smite you by day,Nor the moon by night. ⁷ The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. ⁸ The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever. (NAS)

Lord Jesus - give us a hunger again for Your words. In this day of uncertainty, help us to find the sure and unshifting promises that You have given to us. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org