BE OF GOOD CHEER

Discouraged? “Lord, God, You stretched out your mighty arm and made the sky and the earth AND You can do anything.”   Jeremiah 32:17

 STORY TIME: 

Consider this:  It took some 1500 years; some 40 different writers from all walks of life - prophets, fishermen, kings, tax collectors & etc.- who lived in several different countries/continents to write the Bible.   With that in mind, think about these verses:

Genesis 1:1 – Moses – 1446 BC “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Romans 1:20 – Paul - 57 AD “God’s eternal power and character cannot be seen.  But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all He has made.”

Isaiah 42:5 – Isaiah – 585 BC “I am the Lord God. I created the heavens like an open tent above.  I made the earth and everything that grows on it.  I am the source of life for all who live on earth…”          

Revelations 4:11 –John – 95 AD – “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.  You created all things and by Your decision they are and were created.”                        

 FROM THE GOOD OLD DAYS

I grew up on a 100 acre farm.  Watching a tiny seed of popcorn planted in the earth become an entire cob of corn with hundreds of popcorn seeds on it; or planting one peanut and at harvest time pulling from the ground multiple clumps of several peanut hulls each with at least 2 peanuts was a mighty testament to God’s creative power.

But hot roasted peanuts or delicious, hot popcorn required actions on our part.  We had to remove the fully gown ear of corn from the plant and then it took some hard work to use your thumb and your fingers to force each individual kernel of corn from the dried cobb. 

The peanuts had to first be dried out by placing them in the sun on top of the barn’s tin roof for several days. Then each peanut hull had to be pulled off the dry vines and bagged up to be roasted throughout the winter.  Oh! The smell and taste of those freshly roasted peanuts or that delicious popcorn either of which we had worked hard to have.  Popcorn and peanuts were not as readily available at the store as they are today.

Much like the tiny peanut or the single kernel of popcorn becoming something pleasant in your mouth, so is God’s Word.  As we read the words and plant them in our minds they will take root. As we study the words in the Bible and apply them to our lives we soon find them bringing us real joy and eternal life.

THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO 

“Everything in the scripture is God’s Word.  All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live." 2 Timothy 3:16

“Knowing these (God’s) teachings will mean true life and good health for you.” Proverbs 4:22