Thursday, October 5, 2017
Philippians 2:16 ... Holding fast to the word of life ...
THE WORD OF EVERLASTING LIFE
Why are those who hear God's Word blessed? As far as your body is concerned, you can be blessed with only the most healthy food every day of your life, but in the end, no matter how healthy you eat, your body will eventually wear out and die. But the word of life does not have such limitations for body or for soul.
Think, for instance, when your soul is wanting comfort it finds comforting food there. For example, when Satan and conscience accuse you, saying you are a sinner and you can't be saved, the Word of God tells you that there is One who suffered and died for all sin, also yours, and has paid for every single one of them. Therefore you need not fear damnation, but can come to Jesus and there find full forgiveness.
And again, when your soul is cast down with cares and worries, that Word of God comes to you and tells you to cast all your cares on the Lord, for He cares for you-- even as He cares for the lilies and sparrows and even for each of the hairs on your head. Or again, when you are in a state of mind which trembles at the thought of death, the Word of God comes to you and says that Jesus will be your Companion through the valley of the shadow of death. He will comfort you with His rod and staff.
My friends, in all cases which may arise here in life you have, in the Word of God, nourishment for your soul which will supply you with whatever you need. Therefore, you are blessed, for by that Word of God your soul is strengthened and preserved unto life everlasting, where all misery shall be wiped away, body and soul.
Realizing what we have in the Word of God, let us during this 500th Reformation Anniversary thank God for His gifts and bow our hearts in prayer:
Abide our dear Redeemer
Among us with Thy Word
And thus now and hereafter
True peace and joy afford!
