| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Peter G. Chase" |
| Date: |
18 Oct 2005 04:30:37 AM |
| Object: |
DN God's Transforming Word 10/18/2005 |
DRAWING NEAR
October 18
God's Transforming Word
"The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul" (Ps. 19:7).
God can transform you through His Word into the person He wants you
to be.
Many today doubt the power of Scripture in dealing with the deeper
aspects of the human heart and mind. The Bible may be helpful for
certain superficial or "spiritual" problems, they say, but it's too
simplistic and inadequate for the more complex psychological issues
of modern man. The truth is, however, the best psychology can do is
modify external behavior. It cannot redeem and transform the soul.
Only God can do that through the power of His Word.
That's the truth behind Psalm 19:7, which calls Scripture "the law of
the Lord," thus emphasizing its didactic nature. It is the sum of
God's instruction to man, whether for creed (what we believe),
character (what we are), or conduct (what we do).
The law of the Lord is "perfect." That represents a common Hebrew
word that speaks of wholeness, completeness, or sufficiency.
Commentator Albert Barnes wrote that Scripture lacks nothing [for]
its completeness; nothing in order that it might be what it should
be. It is complete as a revelation of Divine truth; it is complete as
a rule of conduct. . . . It is absolutely true; it is adapted with
consummate wisdom to the [needs] of man; it is an unerring guide of
conduct. There is nothing there which would lead men into error or
sin; there is nothing essential for man to know which may not be
found there (Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms, vol. 1 [Grand
Rapids: Baker, 1974], p. 171).
Man's reasoning is imperfect, but God's Word is perfect, containing
everything necessary for your spiritual life. It is so comprehensive
that it can restore your soul. That is, convert, revive, refresh, and
transform every aspect of your being to make you precisely the person
God wants you to be.
Don't look to impotent human alternatives when God's Word stands
ready to minister to your every need. Spiritual warfare is fought
with spiritual weapons, not fleshly techniques, theories, or
therapies (2 Cor. 10:4).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to keep you focused on His counsel regarding every situation
you face today.
For Further Study:
Memorize 2 Corinthians 9:8 as a reminder of God's super-abounding
grace to you.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
2 Corinthians 10:4
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God
for pulling down strongholds,
2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance
for every good work.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
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