Our Primary Source of Strength -
by Pastor John Fredericksen
Where
do you run to for strength in times of difficulty? Some merely wallow
in depression. Others resort to efforts in the flesh. Many simply turn
to other people. The tragedy of turning to any of these things or people
is that their help or comfort is only marginal at best, and ignores
what God has supplied to provide our needed stability.
David
found the right answer. He wrote, "This is my comfort in my affliction:
for Thy Word hath quickened me" (Psa. 119:50). In the midst of
weakness, even when he felt extremely despondent, time spent in God's
Word brought him spiritual life, comfort, and the strength that he
needed. The extent of the help he received is indicated by his testimony
in verse 71: "It was good for me that I have been afflicted; that I
might learn thy statues." Quite simply, he allowed God to meet his need
so adequately that his tragedy became a triumph by turning to the
Scriptures.
Not
only are we to personally find God's Word to be the answer for all our
needs, we are also to present the Scriptures to others as the answer to
their needs as well. That's what the Apostle Paul meant when he
instructed the Philippians to be always "holding forth [meaning to
present or offer] the Word of life" (Phil. 2:16). Their ministry to the
lost was to be enhanced by the most "blameless" (2:15) conduct possible,
as they shared the gospel with others, and applied God's Word to daily
living. But their ministry was to be empowered by promoting the
Scriptures (not arguments, logic, or platitudes) to the hearts of those
with whom they sought to have a ministry. This was the pattern the
Apostle Paul left them. He held forth the Word of Life to them; they
believed it and were saved. Later his letter further equipped them for
their present needs in the midst of suffering. It was this practice of
presenting God's Word to others, regardless of the individual need, that
made Paul's ministry so effective. God's Word has real power because it
is a divine message from the Lord God Almighty Himself.
God's
Word is the answer for the need of every human soul. Whether the need
is eternal life, answers to current problems, counsel about what to do,
comfort in trial, or insight into future events, God's Word is intended
by the Lord to be our source of strength and power. Run to it, and
encourage others to do so, rather than turning to any other source.
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