2002-02-06 - I Woulda Gotcha

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

I was surprised how many of you responded to Tuesday's devotional, which was mildly focused on the importance of God's Word. I had planned to write this devotional as a followup (like a one - two punch) to Tuesday's and wonder if it is even needed. I was greatly encouraged by the emphasis you all seemed to grasp on the importance of God's Word in our lives. Frankly, I was impressed at the wisdom and depth of many of you who wrote back. But I intend to do as I planned today because, honestly, I don't have anything else planned.

I don't watch a lot of TV but I do remember the climactic line from the movie "Falling Down," which starred Michael Douglas as the unaware villain and Robert Duvall as the police officer trying to stop him. At the end, Douglas pulls a gun and Duvall has to shoot him. Turns out Douglas' gun was just a squirt gun, but Duvall's character had no way to know that. As Douglas falls to his death, he says to Duvall, "I woulda gotcha."

That's a long way of saying, if I could get you into any habit in life it would be the study of God's Word. If I could, I would say to you, "I woulda gotcha into the Bible." I guess I just did say it. "For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart," Hebrews 4:12. I suppose I say it once a year or so, but if these devotionals have become a substitute for your study of God's Word, you should unsubscribe and spend this time in the Bible. If they help drive you to the Scripture, then they are doing what we are trying to accomplish, I am not trying to lose any subscribers, but these are no substitute for the Inspired and Holy Word of God.

I also am not trying to create work for myself, but there are a couple of systems many use to read through the Bible. I have one that will take you through the Bible in one year and another that takes you through the Psalms and New Testament twice a year and the rest of the Bible once in a year. If copies of these would help you in your study of God's Word, I would be happy to march down to the basement, make some copies, and ship them off to anyone who is interested. Just send me an e-mail telling me to do so. It is a small thing for sure, but what I said above is so true. I don't ever want to regret not trying to encourage people to study God's Word and doing everything I can to point them there, because God's Word points us to Christ and Christ is, as Christians, our all in all. If I coulda, I woulda gotcha into God's Word.

"The Word of the Lord is a light to guide you, a counselor to counsel you, a comforter to comfort you, a staff to support you, a sword to defend you and a physician to cure you. The Word is a mine to enrich you, a robe to clothe you, and a crown to crown you." Thomas Brooks

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

 tim@cfdevotionals.org
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