Back to the Basics
Several years ago our founding pastor, my wife's grandpa stood in the pulpit and shared a story about Vince Lombardi. Lombardi's Packers were losing during the first half of the ge and as they came into the locker room to refresh and hear the pep talk he stood on the bench and fumed ... "boys, it's time to get back to the basics ... This ... is a football." Our pastor continued, "Church, it's time to get back to the basics ... This ... is a Bible.
Over and over again in Scripture, the Apostles write things like "so I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them" (2 Peter 1:12, NIV). There is something about the Word of God that doesn't fail to surprise us, enlighten us, encourage us and remind us at just the right time as we continue to search it diligently throughout our lives.
Here's a few encouragements I want to share as reminders from God's Word, maybe it will bless you today:
1. God loves you
John 3:16-17 - For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but save the world through him.
It's a novel idea, and it's truth ... the Creator of all things loves you with a greater love than you can ever comprehend. You could spend a lifetime in silence and meditation like the monks of old, and never come to the end of the infinite love of God for you. Comtemplate on Ephesians 3:14-21.
2. God is for You
Romans 8:31-32 - If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
God cares more about your success than you do. God is not only on your side, but he is more passionate than you are for your relationship with him and your purpose on earth. Contemplate on Psalm 84:11.
3. God is in control
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Peter 1:10-12 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told to you by those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
An old sailor's trick when the seas get rough and they start to feel queezy, is to look to the horizon rather than on the waves. That is what the Word of God does for us. It reminds us in the storms of our lives that God is in control, that he is much bigger than our problems and our current age in history. He is of old, and he is in control of every moment. Contemplate Psalm 37:23 in the New Living Translation.
Sometimes all we need is a reminder.
