NEVER BECOME TOO OLD FOR WAR

Many believers think there comes a point where they can stop fighting. They have been in church for years, they know the Scriptures, they have experience, and they assume the battles are behind them. That is not the picture the Bible gives us.

Look at Caleb. At eighty-five years old, he was not asking for an easy inheritance. He was asking for the mountain occupied by giants (Joshua 14:10–12). While others would have looked for somewhere peaceful to settle, Caleb asked for the hardest territory.

His age had not changed his attitude. He said the same strength he had forty years earlier was still with him. He had not spent his life pursuing comfort. He had spent his life preparing to drive out God's enemies. That is the mindset believers are meant to have.

The problem with many Christians is not that they have grown old. It is that they have grown comfortable.

Some people have been born again for ten or fifteen years and already speak as though they have arrived. They assume maturity means the fighting is over.

The question is not, "How long have I been saved?" The question is, "Is there still an enemy occupying territory that belongs to God?"

As long as there is something resisting God's will in your life or around you, there is still work to do.

That enemy may be sin. It may be fear. It may be pride. It may be a mindset that has survived for years. Whatever it is, your assignment has not changed.

Caleb refused to let age become an excuse. Abraham fought kings in old age. David spent his life fighting the Lord's battles. These men did not retire from spiritual warfare because they had lived long.

God is still looking for people who refuse to stop fighting until every enemy has been driven out.

Ask God to show you the enemies still occupying space in your life. Then fight. Not with excuses. Not with resignation but with the determination of Caleb.

It's my birthday today, pray with me so I will always be relevant and available in the battlefield.

Shalom!

July 27
"FOLLOW ME" — THE JOURNEY OF A DISCIPLE
FOLLOW ME...WITHOUT DELAY
Matthew 8:21–22 (LLV) —
“Another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’”
At first,
Jesus' words
may sound
surprisingly harsh.
But many believe
this disciple
was not speaking
of a father
who had
just died.
He was saying,
“Let me wait
until my father
has lived his life.
After I have fulfilled
my family duties,
then
I will follow You.”
It was not
a request
for a few days.
It was
an indefinite delay.
“I will follow...
but first...”
How often
those words
find their way
into
our own lives.
Lord,
let me first
finish school.
Build my career.
Raise my family.
Retire.
Solve my problems.
Then
I will give You
my full attention.
Jesus
did not dismiss
the importance
of family.
He simply refused
to accept
that anything
should take
first place
ahead of Him.
His invitation
was immediate.
“Follow Me.”
Discipleship
does not begin
when life
becomes convenient.
It begins
the moment
we decide
that Jesus
is worthy
of first place.
There will always
be another reason
to wait.
Another responsibility.
Another excuse.
Another
"but first."
But every day
we postpone
following Christ,
we miss
the joy
of walking
with Him
today.
A new beginning starts here:
choosing to follow Jesus today instead of waiting for a more convenient tomorrow.
Reflection: What "but first" might be keeping me from following Jesus more wholeheartedly today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have allowed other priorities to delay my response to You. Help me place You first above every plan, every fear, and every excuse. Give me a willing heart that responds to Your call today, trusting that Your way is always the best path. Amen.

Daily devotion for July 21st
The Witness
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first ... When the Counselor comes ... he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:18, 26-27
It is remarkable that our Lord moves quickly from His words about love for one another to this word about the world's hatred for the Christian. The world refers to secular society. It is not humankind. Humankind does not hate the church; it is the world that hates the church and the Lord of the church. The world is organized society without God, but with its own morals and standards and value systems. It is what we ordinarily call the system, and it is what hates believers and wants nothing to do with them.

What is to be the attitude of the Christian to this kind of world in which we still live? Our Lord's answer is found in verses 26-27. He says, When the Spirit of God has come, you will bear witness to this world. The world is not to be left in its hopeless rejection of Christ--even though it has resisted and rejected truth when it knew it to be truth.

Every one of us has done this. Still, God does not abandon us. Even when He would be fully justified in turning His back and walking away and leaving us all to our own consequences, He does not do so. He continues to bear a witness before the world.

So the Christian is not to retaliate, not to resent the hatred and persecution of the world, not to be vindictive and to return evil for evil. Rather, we are exhorted to return good for evil. Nor are we to retire from the world, to withdraw from it and build a Christian ghetto in which to hide ourselves and then throw tracts across the chasm! Rather, we are to move into the world, live in its midst just as Jesus did, and bear witness to the truth, even though it is often rejected. We are to do this for the sake of those who will receive, believe, and accept the Word.

This witness is twofold. Primarily it is the witness of the Holy Spirit. He does what no person can do. The Spirit of God opens hearts, removes blindness, and opens minds to understand. He bears witness that a word is true, gives it a ring of authenticity, so that power in witnessing rests with the Spirit, not with us. As Jesus indicates here, we are to bear witness too as the apostles did--as to what they saw and heard, what they themselves experienced. That is where every Christian stands. Just before His ascension Jesus said, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . . (Acts l:8a). We are all to be witnesses of what Jesus has been to us, what we have experienced, what has happened in our lives, what He has done for us.

And the Holy Spirit will witness with that, using those words, simple as they may be, to open minds and to break through hard hearts, to pierce and break down barriers, and to open people up to the Word. Thus, the business of the church is to witness before a hating world.

Lord, You have placed me in this world. Now let me be Your witness today in all that I say and do.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

When I was updating everyone last week on my husband’s condition, I made the joke with my best friend that I might need to think about getting a job. That since I retired, I am so bored. (insert heavy sarcasm) She agreed that my life now was extremely boring. (insert matching sarcasm level). Honestly, I truly understand, now, the statement my mother made when she retired a bazillion years ago … how did I ever find time to work?

I was in a meeting the other day, and my mind drifted a tad. As I was listening to the commentary, I realized that this life was the exact life that He had planned for me. That, in no time during my life, did I ever think about this course of life for myself. As a matter of fact, when I was a kid, I was going to be a teacher or a lawyer. Then I changed my mind and was going to be a police officer. (That part I did do in the military.) However, here is the funny part … when I was pregnant, in the military, and I could no longer safely work patrol, they put me in the mail room. Where did I eventually retire from … the post office. Did not see that in my thoughts for my life. I have always been somewhat opinionated and, to a degree, would vocalize my opinions; however, that has increased as I have gotten older. The funny part here is that I never thought of myself as one who would daily spread His good news. Nor did I think that I would be one that He would use the way he is using me now.

As you sit with Him today on this day of worship, reflect on how He has incorporated different people, different events, different ideas, different solutions, and different atmospheres in your life. Think about what you originally thought you would be doing as to what you are doing now. Think about the hard times, the solutions and lessons that you gleaned from them. Think about the good times and how magnificent they were. Just take a moment and think about how your life turned out. If there is a time that you can think of before you came to know Him, compare the two continents of your life and see the beautiful differences.

Today we will spend time with Him, either in His house or just in His presence. While you are there, be sure to give thanks for all the aspects of your life. For without the challenges, the greatness would not be as wonderful.

Be blessed.

**for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. –Hebrews 4:10

i am going through a very difficult time which i know no man can help, only God. I have been a Christian since October of 1995. I live in my home country Zimbabwe. I used to be a business owner with a hardware business. since 2000 but I closed my doors in 2013. life has never been the same. I began a ministry in 2005 which grew very well but my financial life was a wreck. I never took or received any payments from the church but paid most of the needs for the church. I had to do an electrical engineering course just to get the fantamentals and recently registered a new business of electrical work. solar installations and borehole instalations. even with all this skill I have not gotten any significant contracts. while my financial position is such a mess, the church is going down too. we are losing members inexplicably. i am 53yrs of age now and supposed to be getting prepared for retirement but I have nothing to show or nowhere to retire to. meanwhile all this is happening my marriage is constantly on the rocks and im barely managing. i have bee pushed in a corner so hard that early this year, if it was not God I could have taken my life. At church we are blessed with a piece of land but our church finances can not permit any construction therefore we are still using a temporary structure with no concrete floor but dirt floor. i have asked myself if I was truly called for ministry because the years to enjoy life and ministry seem to be fading away. i have been in depression at least for 2yrs. i had some side pains in 2020 and was wrongly diagnosed with kidney problems and had to undergo a major kidney surgery in 2022 which took every saving we had and left me more of a weakling and only found out this year 2026 that it was a wrong diagnosis because all the pains came back and no machine or testing can tell me what is wrong with me. I am 53 but dont even have a house for my children but just piece of land that I can not afford to build on. the sory of my life is so painful for a man of God. my prayer now is just that I do not lose my faith at the last hour and miss to be with Jesus for eternity. i do believe someone here is going to make a prayer than will change the narrative of my life story. please pray for me

Daily devotion for July 16th
What Does It Take To Obey?
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

John 14:21
To read this, Obey Me, and you will love Me, produces a mechanical, dry Christianity with no warmth or joy or glory. But what Jesus says is, If you love Me, you will obey Me. It is easy to do, not difficult. Notice that it is not, If you love Me, you will have to keep My commandments. No, it is cause and effect: If you love Me, the result is that you will keep My commandments. That is the secret of all proper behavior in the Christian experience. The proof of our love is obedience.

If it takes love to obey, what produces love? That is the issue. If you see a Christian disobeying Christ or you are tempted to disobey, what is it that will turn you around and make you obey? It is love. How do you produce love? What will make you love Him? This is what ties together verses 20 and 21. It is that basic secret of our identity that creates love--the Spirit in us, releasing to us the love of Jesus, awakens love from us in return.

Remember how John puts it in his first letter: We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Remembering this awakens love. Or, as Paul puts it in Romans 5, God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:5). Therefore, the way to produce love is to remember who you are, to whom you belong, and who He is--His death, His resurrection, and His unity with you, His present indwelling life. You cannot remind yourself of that without experiencing a renewed sense of His love and feeling gratitude to Him for who He is and what He has done in your life. When that love begins to flow, then you are being motivated to obey.

Much of the mythology of the ancient world was based upon biblical truth; some of our modern fables reflect that truth as well. For example, no one ever expected anything out of the ordinary from Clark Kent, that mild-mannered newspaper reporter. But whenever there was a sudden demand for action far beyond the ability of mere humans, he always stepped into the nearest phone booth, stripped off his conservative business suit, and emerged, complete with bulging muscles and spectacular costume, as Superman--able to do what otherwise he could not do.

That is exactly what the Word of God is teaching us. We are to retire to the phone booth of our identity with Christ, to remind ourselves of who we are, to whom we belong, and who is within us, and immediately we find love and motivation and power available to us. We are able to do what otherwise we could not do. This is what our Lord is teaching His disciples at this moment: If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Lord, teach me to retreat to that place where I can renew my mind with the realities of my identity in Christ--that I am loved with an everlasting love, filled with Your Spirit, and able to obey by the power at work in me.

DAY 8 - Morning

Reflection
Love Notices Small Needs

Good Morning!
One morning in Kumasi, an elderly husband quietly swept the compound before his wife woke up. A neighbour smiled and said, "You are still doing this after all these years?"
He replied, "Love doesn't retire."
That simple answer carries a profound lesson.
Many people think love is proven only by expensive gifts or grand celebrations. Yet some of the strongest marriages are built through ordinary acts of kindness—filling a water bottle, preparing breakfast, checking on a tired spouse, or offering a warm embrace after a difficult day.
Jesus noticed people's needs before they asked. He fed the hungry, comforted the grieving, and welcomed the overlooked. His love was attentive.
When we notice the small needs of our spouse, we reflect the heart of Christ.

God's Word
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." — Philippians 2:4

Today's Love Action
Do one thoughtful act today without announcing it or expecting recognition.

Let's Talk
What small act of kindness has stayed in your heart long after it happened?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the needs of my spouse and give me a willing heart to serve with joy. Amen.

From The Counselor's Chair
The happiest couples I have met are rarely those with the fewest problems. They are often the ones who consistently notice and respond to each other's everyday needs.

Lewis Addai-Baah Marriage Nugget
"Love grows strongest where small acts of kindness become daily habits."

Remember:
In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.
— Love Without War with Lewis Addai-Baah

Guidelines for Living
June 234d, 2026

How Hard Do I Need to Work, Anyway?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23



For 30 years a certain foreman worked for an employer who treated him honestly and fairly but never paid the man what he wanted. The foreman griped and complained, “He always wants my best work, and he’s never satisfied.” One day the owner of the company called in the foreman and said, “Look, I’m going to retire next year, and I want you to build one more house for me. Give it your best effort! Use the finest materials and craftsmen, and when it’s done, I’m retiring; I’m going out of business.”

The foreman thought, “Hey, if this is the last house, there’s no way I’ll put the best materials into it. Furthermore, why bother, if I’ll be looking for a new job this time next year.” So, the foreman built the house, cutting corners where he could, charging the job with materials he sold on the side and then pocketed the money.”

When the house was completed, the owner called him into the office and handed him the keys to the front door. “Here,” he said, “I wanted this to be your best work because I’m giving the house to you as a reward for these many years of good service.” He signed over the papers and handed the keys to the foreman.

For the rest of his life, that man lived with the reality that the poorly built house was his, and had he only known, he would have done a much better job.

Question: When you are assigned a task, how much effort do you put into it? Just enough to get by? Sufficient to satisfy your boss, get the work signed off, and keep your job? If you are a student, is your goal doing well enough to just pass the course, or do you give it your very best?

“How long have you been working here?” a supervisor asked. “Ever since my boss threatened to fire me if I didn’t start producing,” said the employee, a smile on his face.

Why bother anyway? If you can get by with minimal effort, why go all out? That’s the question that many people are asking today. It’s the mentality that it’s stupid to really exert yourself if you can cheat or squeeze by with minimal effort.

What’s happened to the commitment to excellence? Recently I did a scan of over two billion web pages, looking for articles on this very subject; I found not a single one.

Let’s go beyond the motive of reward to another issue—what God, not your employer, expects. The Bible says that God demands your best, not just enough to get by. Paul instructed slaves in Colosse, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Why does God care whether or not I do my very best, or just enough to get by? What’s the connection between my effort and His will? Simply put, God’s desire is for you to become all that you can be. What you are is God’s gift to you; what you become is your gift to him.

God gave you tremendous talents, tremendous potential and ability, and doing your best, no matter where you go or what you achieve, is what it takes to realize your potential. Doing your best profits you, not your employer.

A closing thought. A commitment to excellence is different from being a perfectionist, never satisfied with what you do. A commitment to excellence means at the day’s end, you turn out the lights tired but fulfilled, knowing that you gave your best and have nothing to be ashamed of.

You may someday have to live in the very house you build. Who knows? Doing your best, you’ll have no regrets, ever.

Resource reading: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

I have been called stupid more times than I can even count.

I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree, and I am 60 minutes short of a post-graduate degree. Still, I have been called stupid by individuals with just a bachelor’s degree and others with Ph.D.’s, and even by some with no degree at all.

Usually, it is because of my political opinions or my identity as a follower of Jesus. For those antagonistic to my personal views and who know my story, my stupidity is simply evidenced by those final 60 minutes of my postgraduate program (Note, even though my supervisors said my thesis was ready to go, it was rejected by my examiners. This served as the inspiration for my book “Losers Like Us.)

Because of those disastrous 60 minutes in England, I have been hesitant to engage in anything controversial because of that one measly hour. In the back of my mind, I brace myself for that particular insult.

However, even when nothing is said, the dread of those 60 minutes has haunted me since 2008—17 years ago.

Still, sometime during those years, society has changed in ways that helped me better appreciate and be thankful that it worked out that way.

Something has evolved in our society in the last five years or so that has actually broadened my perception. I was hoping to teach at a university years ago. I wanted to be the “expert” in my field whatever that was. I wanted my ideas to be in demand.

But that is not all it’s cracked up to be. Since COVID, the idea of expertise has had its mask ripped off its face. As much as they don’t want to admit it, experts are realizing that we think they’re just as stupid as we are. Sure, they have more letters after their name and can throw around big words when diminutive words would do. But the one thing missing in most ivory towers is common sense.

The last movie the late great Gene Hackman was in was a little-known comedy called “Welcome to Mooseport.” Hackman played a retired U.S. president who settles in the small town to build his presidential library and enjoy the pleasures of retirement. However, the town needed a mayor and approached him to run for the office.

After all, who wouldn’t want a former president as mayor of the town?

After he agreed to run, a dude who ran the local hardware store, played by Ray Romano, threw his hat into the ring.

On one side there is the former president, an expert in his field of running the United States, overshooting the runway on every issue, promising to organize a blue-ribbon panel to study the issue of a high number of car accidents at a particular intersection. On the other hand, there is a local yokel suggesting a tree should be pruned back a little so traffic could better see the stop sign.

Thus, the current state of the “expert.”

In March 2021, after the COVID lockdown, the magazine The Atlantic published a piece called “Following your gut isn’t the right way to go.”

It was the subtitle that got my attention: “The experts had a rough year. We still have to trust them. “

The experts haven’t done anything to redeem themselves. This week, I saw a video of a congressional hearing in which a Senator asked an expert if men could get pregnant. The expert, a “medical doctor” promptly replied yes. When the Senator challenged her on this, she responded with “I am the expert here.”

Now, I realize that I only got a C in high school Health class, but I can totally understand from that is that experts have a ways to go before I or anyone else take any advice from them.

Although I know it won’t happen, we should probably retire the idea that someone is stupid because we don’t agree with them politically, metaphysically, or theologically.

Like every other term that is overused, “stupid” no longer has the same impact it’s had since, I don’t know, the third grade.

Nowadays, if someone calls me stupid, whether it’s in the media, on a social media post, or to my face, I just ignore them. It’s far easier to do once you realize that personal insults thrown your way are simply evidence the “other side” has no response to your argument.

Still, the truth is I am stupid.

I’ll own it.

We all are.

Even the ones who lack the self-awareness to admit it.

But this is where it gets good.

When my postgraduate studies went up in flames, I locked on to 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. It has been my life verse for well over a decade:

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

If you’re a Christ-follower and someone calls you stupid—as they will—own it.

God has this extraordinary methodology through history to use us losers—stupid people by the world’s eyes—to do great things.

Without Jesus, one’s stupidity will do nothing more than just be stupidity.

The Present Truth # 1
God's Letter to You.

Heaven's Pledge - Our Assurance
At some stage in life, individuals question their existence and purpose in life. A young mind generally has hopes and aspirations for the future. A discontented or discouraged mind finds it hard to accept a purpose or reason for life. Then there are the lonely, the empty, the unhappy. How can your life become more fulfilling, healthy, interesting? What lies after death? Is it possible to receive eternal life? Human hearts of every walk of life question the uncertain, yet desire an answer to satisfy their needs of security and contentment. No doubt at times such questions enter your mind. Are there answers to life's vital questions? Where can you find them? We all have some beliefs or ideas, but how accurate are they? No book ever written reveals so well the answer to these and many other fundamental questions except the Holy Bible. It reveals how life can be lived and enjoyed to the fullest. This is a promise.

Who Wrote the Bible?
Some critics have claimed that the Bible is only a book written by ordinary men, and therefore is just like any other book. The first part of this assertion is partly true but the latter is false. Yes, the book was written by men, but they had one different characteristic to most authors.

“ . . . holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21.

God selected righteous men to pen His messages. They were not naturally creative writers, but events and messages were recorded as they were revealed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Visions and thoughts were received and these holy men, knowing these were from God, faithfully wrote in their own language what they were shown.

Thus there is a variety of style and of expression in the Bible, but no contradictions. There is a common theme throughout the collection of writings and a unity of beliefs.

“The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” 2 Samuel 23:2.

No one was entrusted to write God’s sacred messages without receiving divine assistance.

Actually the Bible is a compendium of books and its real Author is the Almighty. Throughout all these sacred writings is the theme of salvation from sin and its consequences, if we accept God's provisions and counsels.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

The Scriptures also tell us of God and His loving character. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39.

Divisions
Sixty-six books were written by nearly 40 writers during a period of approximately 1,600 years. Thirty-nine of the books constitute what is known as the Old Testament and twenty-seven comprise the New Testament. Whenever Jesus referred to Scripture, He quoted the Old Testament (the New Testament had not yet been written).

The Old Testament has three major sections. Jesus said, “. . . These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Luke 24:44.

“The law of Moses” refers to the first five books of the Bible. They were written by Moses and are often referred to as “the law,” because they contain all the laws that were given to ancient Israel. The ceremonial laws were symbolic and terminated at the cross. But there is far more to “Moses” than just the ceremonial system. Primarily it consists of the doctrines and principles of establishing God's church on earth. First there is the moral law as given by God Himself, then nature's laws, health, and doctrines of order and organization.

“The prophets” refer to all the prophetic books. Some books in other classifications also have prophetic sections but, for ease of identification, each book is only placed in one category. For instance, Jesus used this type of terminology when talking with two disciples who were traveling to Emmaus after Jesus' resurrection: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27.

One of the most compelling tests of the authenticity of the Scriptures is the evidence of prophecy, for true prophecy is the recording of history in advance. Many of the prophecies of the Bible were written hundreds of years before their fulfilment, others are occurring now, some refer to our future. So important is prophecy that God challenges anyone to accurately predict the future in detail as He does.

“Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.” Isaiah 41:21-23.

“Psalms” or poetry. The poetical books are Job, the Song of Solomon, and the Psalms. Some translations of the Bible record all the poetical sections in poetical format rather than prose. Although the meter is lost in translation from the original language, the beauty, majesty and pathos of the poetry of the Bible is still apparent and may be readily appreciated.

The Power and Purpose of the Bible
The power of God's word is demonstrated in many ways. When we scan the heavens and behold the sun, moon, planets and the myriads of stars, all orbiting their appointed trajectory through the immense expanse of space, we are witnessing the power of the Word of God!

“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:6, 9.

Yet a still greater power is contained in the living Word. Jesus, the son of God said, “. . . the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. What is this power? What is its purpose?

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

“The word” has within itself power, deep, abiding, and eternal. It leads us to see ourselves as we really are. It searches our inmost failures and yearnings, and provides the power to raise us from the lowest degradation. It has power which is able to make and keep men right, something we cannot do for ourselves. The Bible is able to transform our character and to make each person radiant, joyous, and full of hope.

The Psalmist testified of this marvelous transforming power: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11.

How long will the word of God endure? Christ declared: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35.

Comparing the short life span of man with the Word of God, the apostle Peter wrote: “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth forever . . . ” 1 Peter 1:24, 25.

On the midst of all the turmoil and strife of this present age, the Bible stands as an immovable, unchangeable beacon, with its light pointing to the true haven. It is a teacher and counselor of the highest order.

Can Everyone Understand the Bible?
For centuries it has been claimed by the clergy that the Bible should not be read by lay members because only learned theologians are able to interpret its doctrines. This withholding of the Scriptures from the people resulted in an intellectual, spiritual, and moral decline known, today, as the “Dark Ages.” “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6.

Contrary to the stated belief of “the clergy,” “the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalm 119:130.

Therefore, the Word of God is not only for intellectuals to understand, but if studied and obeyed, it will ennoble and elevate the humble searcher for truth, whatever his station in life. Christ declared that God's Word was more readily understood by those of open minds “babies” in trusting and absorbing just what God says, than by those who claim to be “wise.”

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Matthew 11:25.

Often men of considerable learning, whether secular or theological, are too proud to admit wrong and thus disqualify themselves from understanding the truth of God. This is clearly illustrated in the Bible by the attitude of the learned scribes and Pharisees toward the teachings and person of Christ. Although they had theoretical knowledge, they could not accept the truth being presented to them.

The Lord sees those who are humbly seeking for truth: “. . . to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2.

As we have read before, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” In other words, the “Spirit of God” gave the messages to the various writers. In order to understand the Word of God aright, we need this same Spirit to guide our mind when we read the Bible.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13.

The written Word of God is God's voice speaking to us. It should always be treated with respect and should be studied with genuine desire to understand truth and its messages. Time spent searching the Scriptures should be regarded as time being spent in contact with the Divine. Therefore, before opening your Bible always pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance and believe that you will be directed and taught aright.

Why Are There So Many Different Interpretations of the Bible?
This question is often asked by skeptics as an argument that the Bible is unreliable. But are they right? What is the key to true understanding?

One reason is given by the apostle Peter: “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:16.

In addition the Bible reproves sin and lays open the hidden secrets of the heart. This is not agreeable to our human nature which seeks to obscure the Scripture's plain explanations. The apostle Paul prophesied: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, have itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.

It is impossible to come to a right understanding of the Bible if our hearts are not changed, because sinful human nature is opposed to the Spirit of God. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Today men are eagerly seeking for personal advantage. For the sake of gaining riches, honor or power, they place the maxims, traditions and requirements of men above the requirements of God. From such the treasures of God's word are hidden.

Obedience is one key to a true understanding of the Scriptures. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17.

The Theme of Bible Inspiration
Many books have a central figure around which the story is woven. The Bible too has a central person in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus said: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39.

When conversing with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus after His resurrection, Jesus explained this vital truth to them: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27.

Will There Always Be Opportunity to Study God's Word?
Many people put off searching the Scriptures until they retire, or to some other time in the future. But they are making a fatal mistake!

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.” Amos 8:11-13.

This wonderful book—the Bible—will soon be of no use for men. There will be no more opportunities to understand it or to obey its teachings. The Holy Spirit will not then be available to help people know the truth. Nevertheless, today we still have opportunity. There is still time to become acquainted with God's plan for us.

Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement General Conference.