Are you discouraged? Lost? Homesick? Tired? Burned-out? Cross back into Life! God is waiting for you to cross back to Life, cross back home to him.

Grab your Bible because “the Holy Scriptures are our letters from home” like Augustine put it. The Bible will be your map back to Life. With the words of Warren Wiersbe “The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.”

Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2. Timothy 3: 14-17, MSG, emphasis added,*)

The Bible is the living word of God. Like Augustine said “I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” God has the words of eternal life. Let’s cross back into Life!

But we don’t necessarily always want to read the Bible. George Mueller’s words come to mind: “the less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.” We need to make sure there is enough time in our lives for Bible-reading and staying in the presence of God. It is so easy to back-slide.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites. (Philippians 3: 15-19, MSG, emphasis added,*)

“No man understands the Scriptures, unless he be acquainted with the cross”, said Martin Luther. That’s what we need to do, keep acquainted with the cross. We need the Holy Spirit to guide our Bible-reading, to open our spiritual eyes to understand what we are reading. With the words of Samuel Chadwick “The man who thinks he can know the Word of God by mere intellectual study is greatly deceived. Spiritual truth is spiritually discerned.”

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. (1 Cor.1:18, MSG, emphasis added,*)

It’s time to cross back to Life.
It’s time to abide in the Word of God.
It’s time to bask in God’s grace.

All this is possible because of Christ. God’s invitation for Life is always open. We are free to turn back and cross back into Life. Don’t wait too long. Do it today.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for your gift of grace!
Thanks for providing a crossing back to you.
Draw us into reading your word daily.
Draw us into your presence.
Draw us into Life!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How is your Bible-reading going?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim. You are not alone.God is calling your name! Lift your head and respond with a YES!

Photo courtesy of Jim Dobbs, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. This post is refurbished from 2010. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Playdates with God.