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Tag: Scripture

  • How the Bible equips and changes us

    How the Bible equips and changes us

    But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

    One of my favourite places is a fully stocked kitchen—pantry, cupboards, drawers, fridges, and freezers filled with fresh ingredients, utensils, gadgets, recipes, and specialised pots and pans. A well-equipped kitchen makes you look like a pro, even if you’re not a master chef! With the right tools at hand, you won’t be scrambling for ingredients or struggling with a rusty cheese grater when dinner guests arrive.

    Scripture is like that kitchen, designed to lead us to salvation and equip us for every good work God calls us to. If we truly want to take on God’s character and live for His glory, we need look no further than the Bible. Scripture is unique in its ability to equip us because it is God’s Word.

    Jay Adams, a renowned biblical counsellor, once wrote…

    “Our problem is not that we do not have what we need in the Bible, but that we do not have enough of the Bible in us, which we need!”

    Not enough of the Bible in us.

    I have often thought of the truth of that statement. Our issue is not that the Bible lacks what we need, but that we haven’t let enough of the Bible truly fill us. If we use the kitchen analogy again, the problem with modern Christianity is that in our effort to make the Bible more accessible, we sometimes fail to open the cupboards and learn how to properly use the tools that help us grow godly and mature in our faith.

    Paul tells us that the Bible is profitable for a life of godliness. When used properly, it is a powerful, practical, and transformative book.

    So, do we truly know our way around the entire Bible, or do we simply stick to the familiar, comforting passages that encourage us for the moment? Are we teaching young Christians to discover for themselves what the Bible says, what it means, and how they can live it out? This is just as crucial to a godly life as mastering knife skills is to a cook.

    God-breathed.

    In his letter to the young pastor Timothy, Paul made powerful statements about the sacred Scriptures, which at that time only included the 39 books of the Old Testament. Paul emphasised that these Scriptures were nothing less than the inspired word of God, His special revelation, given to equip Timothy to challenge false teachers and be an effective minister of the Word at the local church in Ephesus. The sixty-six books of the Bible in the Canon today, translated into our own languages, are far more comprehensive than what Timothy had.

    Just like Timothy, we are surrounded by false teachers who have strayed from the truth and are leading others astray (2 Tim 2:18). These imposters are deceiving others while being deceived themselves (2 Tim 3:13). In today’s world, the internet, bookstores, and Christian broadcasting networks are flooded with false teaching, but God has given us the Bible as the ultimate standard to test everything else against.

    Continue in what you have learned…

    “Don’t chase after the next shiny new thing, Timothy!” Paul urged the young man to remain steadfast in what he had already learned.

    The Scriptures had been carefully taught to Timothy from childhood by his mother Lois, his grandmother Eunice, and Paul himself. These were reliable teachers, as their lives reflected the truth they shared. Timothy didn’t need the latest ministry trend or a self-help book to equip him for his calling. Above all, he needed to know, understand, apply, and teach Scripture more deeply.

    In all the pages of Scripture, Timothy would find everything he needed for the work God had called him to as a young minister.

    This got me thinking about the crucial role that God has given parents and grandparents in teaching Scripture to their children. In my service as a teen leader, it was easy to recognise the kids who have been well-taught at home. After spending a week with my own adult children at varsity, I am encouraged by the deep store of Scripture they have hidden in their hearts and minds, built through years of reading and teaching them the Bible as children. They now have a hunger to know Christ more through Bible study. But when we sat at the end of their beds reading the Bible to them as kids, we wondered if any of it was sinking in! There are tremendous blessings in being a second or third-generation Christian, as Timothy was.

    Paul’s simple command to Timothy, “Continue in what you have learned and become convinced of,” reflects the timeless truth in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

    Bring them up…

    I often hear parents lamenting their children’s disrespect or rebellion, but I wish more parents would take their own role seriously:
    “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4)

    In many Christian homes, intentional Bible teaching and training are neglected or pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. Too often, parents have bought into the dangerous lie that teaching the Bible to their children will push them away or make them rebellious, so they delegate this essential task to Sunday school teachers or youth leaders, who see them for less than an hour each week. Instead of bringing children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, there is a dumbing down of children.

    If Scripture enables the man (or woman) of God to be complete, to grow, and to be fully equipped for every good work, shouldn’t Bible teaching be the priority in every Christian home?

    The Bible is able.

    Paul tells Timothy that the Bible is able to make us wise unto salvation.

    It’s not a trivial book meant for our entertainment or intellectual curiosity. It’s not simply a collection of feel-good quotes to boost our emotions like a quick refuel for a car that will run out of petrol the next day. No, the Bible is far more potent and effective than that. The Scriptures are able to give us the wisdom that leads to salvation and then draw us nearer to Christ’s likeness. Paul warned Timothy that his ministry would only remain effective and relevant if he held fast to the Scriptures.

    On its own, the Bible is just paper and ink. But in the power of the Holy Spirit, Scripture provides us with the wisdom needed to understand the gospel and be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. This is an extraordinary claim to make about the Old Testament, but as Jesus explained to His disciples on the road to Emmaus, the entire Old Testament points to His death and resurrection: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)

    I have known several people who were converted simply by reading the raw text of the Bible for themselves, without any human interpretation. The gospel is clearly laid out in the pages of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.

    In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul reminds us that unregenerate people must first hear the gospel, believe, and be saved before they can grow and be transformed into Christ’s likeness. Without God’s special revelation, we cannot believe the gospel. Without the Bible, we cannot grow in godliness. Without Scripture, we cannot lead anyone to Christ or disciple them effectively. From beginning to end, the Bible tells us about:

    • God’s holiness and our sin,
    • Our separation from God,
    • God’s plan to reconcile us to Himself,
    • How to respond to Christ in repentance and faith,
    • How to grow in holiness.

    The Bible is living and active, quick to discern the thoughts and motives of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). It is nourishing and leads us to fear and please the Lord (Ps 19:7-11). If we neglect the Bible in our evangelism and discipleship, it’s like trying to cook a meal in the bathroom.

    The Bible transforms.

    The Bible is given to transform our lives and relationships. In verse 16, Paul outlines a four-step process by which the Word transforms us into Christ’s likeness:

    1. Teaches – We are changed as God’s standards are taught to us.
    2. Convicts – Our conscience is awakened as God’s Word reproves us.
    3. Corrects – Scripture corrects our thoughts and actions.
    4. Trains – When properly handled, Scripture trains us to live in a way that pleases God, shaping us into His character.

    The power for godly living comes from Christ, but as we behold His glory in Scripture, we are progressively transformed into His image. This is how Jerry Bridges explains the transformative power of the Bible:

    “Beholding the Lord’s glory in His Word isn’t just seeing His humanity in the Gospels; it’s seeing His character, attributes, and will throughout all Scripture. As we maintain this relationship with Him, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit and empowered to display godly character. The Christian isn’t like an automobile with an internal power source, but like an electric motor needing an outside current. Our power comes from the risen Christ, and we stay connected to Him through His Word and prayer.” (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness)

    What about us?

    If the Bible is God-breathed and accomplishes its purposes, our response should be awe, respect, and a commitment to knowing and applying its truth. As we read the Bible, we must be teachable, prayerful, and responsive. Christian books, music, sermons, and groups are helpful, but their true value is measured by how faithfully they align with Scripture. There’s no other resource or system that can truly transform hearts towards godliness.

    Reading through Paul’s second letter to Timothy, I realised the church’s struggles then aren’t so different from ours now. Many speak with the right Christian clichés, seem doctrinally sound, but they deny the power of Scripture. They entertain their listeners with anecdotes, but rarely dig deep into the Bible or unleash it to change lives. Refusing to submit to Scripture, they are always learning but never able to settle on the truth (2 Tim 3:4-9).

    In contrast, Paul urged Timothy to find wisdom, power, and transformation in God’s Word, not in smooth talk or persuasion. Let’s take up the sharp, two-edged sword of Scripture and allow it to penetrate our thinking and way of life—every corner of that kitchen—let’s get chopping, let’s get cooking!

     

     

  • Flourish

    Flourish

    There is a direct correlation between our engagement with the Bible and whether we flourish as Christians. Psalm 1 teaches that a flourishing Christian life is rooted in God’s Word. Delighting in and meditating on Scripture is essential to spiritual health. Like a tree planted by streams of water, we must draw from the nourishing source of Scripture to remain fruitful and rooted in Christ. Neglecting God’s Word, on the other hand, leads to spiritual dryness and emptiness. God’s Word is not a luxury!

    Blessed is the man
        who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
    nor stands in the way of sinners,
        nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
    2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
        and on his law he meditates day and night.

    3 He is like a tree
        planted by streams of water
    that yields its fruit in its season,
        and its leaf does not wither.
    In all that he does, he prospers.

    4 The wicked are not so,
        but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

    5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
        nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
    6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
        but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1)

    The source.

    At the end of last year, my parents moved after almost forty years in the same home. In an attempt to keep alive some memories of their breath-taking garden, I cut many slips and planted them in my own garden. My favourites were unusual orange Cannas and purple Irises, which originally grew on a farm called “Grace” where I spent my childhood.

    When I left to go on holiday in December, Joburg was experiencing a heat wave, with water restrictions and no sign of rain, so I worried that all the fragile little plants would die before they had a chance to get established in my own garden. To my delight,  when I returned home from the holidays, I found that almost all the slips I’d planted in December had taken root and were flourishing. Some of the new saplings are even flowering now for the first time. Pure drenching rains achieved this miracle of life. Of course, only God is responsible for the rainfall. Did you know that God designed rainwater to contain nitrates, the most bio-available form of nitrogen? Nitrogen is one of the three key macro-nutrients that plants need to thrive and develop lush foliage. Because of nourishing rain, our gardens flourish.

    Just as rain sustains a garden, the Bible is the source of a flourishing Christian life. It is God’s Word that nourishes, cleanses, and sanctifies us, ensuring we remain fruitful and vibrant in our faith. What a gift to have God’s Word as our infallible authority and source of truth! It will keep us fruitful and evergreen.

    Rooted in God’s Word

    Just as a tree draws nutrients from water, we must absorb Scripture continuously to grow spiritually. We must have God’s Word in our hearts, not just our minds. The Bible is God’s gift to us, a source of wisdom and life (Psalm 19:7-8), and it was the weapon Jesus used against temptation (Matt 4:4). The Bible is God’s stream to sanctify us in the truth and set us apart as His own (John 17:17). Without it, we are like chaff—fragile, aimless, and withered.

    Jesus emphasised this in John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” We often miss the second part of Christ’s condition: His words must abide in us if we are to bear fruit. A lack of engagement with Scripture makes this impossible.

    Unless Scripture is central to our day-to-day life, we cannot hope to live Christ-centred, God-glorifying, fruitful lives.

    Meditating and Delighting in Scripture

    Psalm 1 speaks of the blessed man’s delight in God’s law, as he meditates on it day and night.

    Meditating on the Bible entails focussed thought and engagement—not just a quick scan of a verse or devotional, which often invites distraction rather than meditation. When we engage with Scripture thoughtfully, we encounter God Himself. It’s like drenching rain.

    Meditation is the quiet classroom where the Holy Spirit counsels and convicts our hearts, leading to transformation. It’s the time of solitude where the distractions, worries and hurry of life fade, rooting us in God’s love. The more we delight in God’s Word, as opposed to seeing it as mere study or preparation for the next Bible study we plan to teach, the more we grow in knowledge and love for Him. Meditation is not merely a chore; it’s joyful engagement with the truth that changes our hearts.

    A Slippery Slope

    Psalm 1 presents two paths: the way of the righteous, who flourish, and the way of the wicked, who wither. If we neglect God’s Word, we gradually move away from the stream of life, allowing ourselves to be influenced by ungodly counsel. This process starts subtly, with walking in the counsel of the wicked, then standing in the way of sinners, and eventually sitting with scoffers. Without God’s Word, we become rootless, like chaff, tossed by every wind of opinion and feeling.

    There are many sources of counsel out there—friends and family; the internet and social media; psychologists, therapists and podcasts; movies, TV and books. How many of us would say that our smartphone or Netflix subscription has made us a better, happier, more contented, wiser and healthier person? Whether we realise it or not, we are being profoundly shaped by our current information intake.

    A Christian who neglects Bible reading will, over time, be led astray by distractions, sinful desires, and deceptive ideas. It’s not an overnight transformation but a gradual drift. Daily Scripture reading is a safeguard against this slippery slope.

    The Power of four.

    This was brought home to me by an intriguing study I read recently by Arnold Cole and Pamela Caudill Ovwigho, who questioned 8665 self-identified  Christians in America. The document “Understanding the Bible Engagement Challenge: Scientific Evidence for the Power of 4” highlights the profound impact of regular Bible engagement on moral behaviour. The researchers found that those who read or listen to the Bible at least four times a week (the “power of four”) showed significantly lower levels of sinful behaviours like gambling, pornography, and extramarital sex. These individuals also reported less destructive thoughts, such as anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. Furthermore, they were 228% more likely to share their faith and disciple others, and 407% more likely to memorise Scripture.

    The research also found that Scripture engagement is a more reliable predictor of moral behaviour than other measures of spirituality, such as church attendance and prayer. How often one reads and listens to the Bible seemed a particularly strong protective factor for teens.

    The research also revealed a stark difference between those who read Scripture at least four times a week and those who engage with the Bible less frequently. Three times a week or less is not enough to make a difference. While many Christians own several Bibles, they often neglect them, citing busyness as the reason. But the evidence is clear: regular Bible engagement leads to tangible changes in behaviour and spiritual health.

    As a counsellor, I’ve observed this “power of four” in counselling practice. The more diligently a client takes on board the weekly Bible homework I assign to them, the more positive their progress in overcoming struggles which have brought them to seek help. It’s amazing to watch someone who has been floundering begin to flourish, because the Bible offers wisdom, hope and healing in ways no human counsel can replicate.

    Water is not a luxury.

    For Christians, engaging in Scripture is not a luxury but a necessity. Just as we need water to survive, we need God’s Word to grow spiritually. If we want to live fruitful lives and honour God, we must prioritise Scripture. The new year is an ideal time to establish consistent Bible-reading habits. If you haven’t already, set aside time each day for God’s Word. Create daily habits and rhythms to make Scripture central to your everyday life. Whether through a Bible reading plan, commentary, or devotional, make sure you’re engaging deeply with Scripture. Set specific goals, such as memorising a verse each week, and allow Scripture to shape you, rather than trying to shape Scripture to meet your immediate needs.

    Join us on “The God Walk” as we explore Scripture together in 2025. Subscribe if you haven’t already done so, so that the devotional blog appears in your inbox.

    There are numerous resources available to help you dive deeper into Scripture. Here are some to consider:

    • For the Love of God by D.A. Carson (Volumes 1 and 2, Robert Murray M’Cheyne reading plan)
    • Strength for Today and Drawing Near by John MacArthur
    • Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
    • Daily Readings from All Four Gospels by J.C. Ryle
    • Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Psalms by John Calvin
    • Remade: Embracing Your Complete Identity in Christ by Paul Tautges

    Whether in written or audio form, the Bible is a powerful tool. Let’s open it, value it, prioritize it, and allow it to transform us. As Job said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).

    Prayer

    Lord, thank you for drenching rain and pure streams of water that you provide to nourish the earth and make creation lush and fruitful. Make us conscious of our daily need for your Word to nourish our souls and grow us into fruitful Christians. By your Spirit, help us to be committed to a consistent Bible reading plan, and to meditate and delight in Scripture, so that we live out our faith and flourish this year. May we experience your grace which trains us in all the layers of real life, as we engage with Scripture in the power of the Holy Spirit.

    Amen.

    Further useful resources:

    Daily Program on Truth for Life app. (Alistair Begg)

    Explore the Bible App. Published by The Good Book Company.

    365 Days with Spurgeon. Volume 1.

    George Whitfield – Daily Readings.

    Come to the Waters. Daily Bible Devotions for Spiritual Refreshment. James Montgomery Boice.

     

     

     

  • Honey for the Heart

    Honey for the Heart

    The Bible is like honey for the human heart. I will always remember how my dad read the Bible to me every night before bedtime. He did not pick and choose random quotes that he thought suitable for a child, but simply read Scripture as a narrative, picking up each day where we left off. It was the sweetest time of my day. The way he read the words, asked me questions and connected it to our lives showed me that Scripture was credible and alive to him. It also showed me that he cared for me. The Bible was not just an old book to take to church once a week, but an infallible source of truth, wisdom and comfort for all of life. Those treasured moments of shared reading were a nutritious treat, sweeter than honey.

    In Psalm 19, David meditates on the limited parts of God’s Word which he had in his possession—the Torah. He delights in God’s infallible Word, not as a set of rules or shackles to keep us from having fun, but as God’s gracious self-revelation to us. This is the beautiful poetry David wrote after contemplating how God reveals Himself to us through the skies:

    “The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
    the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
    8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
    the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
    9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
    the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
    10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
    sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
    11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

    12 Who can discern his errors?
    Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
    13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
    let them not have dominion over me!
    Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

    The God who speaks.

    When I consider that the Bible was written by over forty human authors over a timespan of fifteen hundred years, it crosses my mind that God was not obliged to speak to us. He could have chosen to remain silent, leaving us in our ignorance and confusion. But instead, God went to great lengths to speak to us through words that show us who He is, what He’s like, and how we can know Him.

    God’s Word is tangible proof that the Creator of the universe loves us and wants a personal relationship with us. He befriends us through this extraordinary collection of inspired books that we call the Bible, which David called the Law. It’s as if He welcomes us into his mansion of delights through the front door of his Word. He beckons us to come in and taste his words of truth.

    But familiarity breeds contempt. We risk losing awe when we become too used to seeing the Bible collecting dust on our bookshelves, or when we’re in the habit of consuming only what pastors, Bible apps and podcasters have mediated for us. Sometimes we need to take a step back and remind ourselves of what God’s Word is and does, so that we will be excited to read the raw text for ourselves.

    What Scripture does and is.

    David says that Scripture revives the soul and makes the simple wise (Ps 19:7). It gives joy to the heart and enlightens the eyes (Ps 19:8). When we take time to read, digest and obey it, the Bible is more valuable than any treasure money can buy. It’s more wonderful than any pleasure invented by man (Ps 19:10). Scripture is perfect, trustworthy, right, pure, true and righteous. Best of all, it teaches us to rightly fear the God who made us (Ps 19:9).

    Moreover, because the Bible is God’s standard of right and wrong, it warns and convicts us of sin (Ps 19:11-13). Every word of Scripture is flawless (Ps 12:6; 119:60; Prov 30:5-6; John 10:35). It speaks to all areas of life and knows no cultural or age barrier. It is eternal and always relevant (Ps 119:89; Isa 40:8; Matt 24:35).  Jesus himself affirmed that God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), so when properly interpreted, the Bible will never lead us astray.

    We can trust Scripture as reliable because it is breathed out by God, and God is altogether trustworthy (2 Peter 1:20-21). These are extraordinary claims to make about any book, especially one that has been read and loved for millennia. But like honey, the Bible needs to be savoured and digested. It is not a medication to administer or a snack to wolf down.

    What a gift!  As receptive readers, if our thinking is daily corrected, renewed, warned and trained to see as God sees, we will be transformed through Scripture. It will thoroughly equip us for every good work that God has in mind for us (2 Tim 3:16-17). It doesn’t get more comprehensive that that.

    Sources of wisdom.

    God has not left us to flounder in our foolishness but has come to us offering wisdom. As Solomon wrote, “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice” (Prov 1:20). When Jesus became flesh, “He became to us the wisdom from God” (1 Cor 1:30). And because the Bible is all about Christ from beginning to end, it is the only reliable source of wisdom. It is a firm foundation on which to build our lives.

    Biblical wisdom is in stark contrast to cultural ideologies, the internet, AI and social media, even Church tradition. As Paul warned the Colossian Christians, he warns us too: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col 2:8). If we build on the foundation of human wisdom, rather than on Christ and his Word, we will be as precarious as a house built on sand (Matthew 7:24-26).

    If the last ten years have shown us anything, it’s that overuse of digital media produces a sickly tree with dry leaves and shrivelled fruit. This is because the internet creates endless content which is shallow, alluring and ever-changing. Like a giant Nutri-bullet blitzing a smoothie of Fanta and sweets, it leaves consumers with a stomach ache, feeling empty, anxious and addicted. Our brains crave more and more, but mere content cannot satiate our appetite for what is real and true.

    We live in an age of information gluttony but wisdom malnutrition. Information is constantly changing, while our brains are overstimulated and distracted. Research shows that our smartphones are making us increasingly unhappy, lonely and mentally ill. Even our physical health is suffering. Souls are more weary and desperate for revival than ever.

    In contrast, David likens the Bible to a stream of water that nourishes a fruitful tree (Psalm 1:2-3). It contains the eternal wisdom of God, the Logos, who became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ ,“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3), “a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory (Col 2:7).  Without the Jesus of the Bible, we will have no salvation, no truth to anchor us, no wisdom for life.

    Unlike a stock response on Chat-GPT or a Tik-Tok video, God’s wisdom is not something that we can download in seconds. Wisdom is accumulated over time and experienced by those who have found the hidden treasure of the gospel and diligently apply God’s Word to their lives, day-after-day, year after year (Matt 13:44-46). Wisdom comes to those who “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Wisdom will grow in you only if you  are humble enough to let the Bible instruct you, contradict you, and show you where you’re wrong.

    Honey for the heart.

    Having read the Bible from childhood and seen how powerfully the Holy Spirit ministers to people’s hearts through its words, I am convinced that whatever is written in Scripture is wiser and better and truer and lovelier and more powerful than anything we can invent by our own wisdom. I have been amazed by stories of unbelievers who felt drawn to read the Bible and were born again as the truth dawned on them. Because it is God’s breaking news of the gospel, it is honey for the heart.

    For those with a deep longing for God and his eternal wisdom, there is a way to flourish in an increasingly unstable and malnourished culture. We need to become hungry Bible readers again, convinced that “Christ is the meat, the bread, the food provided by God for [our] soul” (John Owen). We need to become confident doers of the Word, because we love God and long for our lives to be shaped by His wisdom.

    Like honey, which makes everything else taste better (think tea, porridge and toast), we need a steady stream of God’s Word to transform how we see everything else. Let’s treasure the nourishing honey that God has given us, by delighting in His Word, meditating on it and memorising it, because that is how we will taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8). Let’s diligently teach it to our children, because God tells us this is good (Deut 6:6-7).

    Wisdom that saves.

    Of this we can be confident: When God’s Word goes out in the power of the Holy Spirit, it is a sword that pierces (Heb 4:12-13); a mirror that reveals (James 1:23); a seed that reproduces (1 Peter 1:23); a fire that consumes and a hammer that shatters (Jer 23:29). It is milk that nourishes (1 Peter 2:2); a lamp that illuminates (Ps 119:105), and a living stream that supports human flourishing and fruitfulness (Psalm 1:2-3). Because it contains the message of the cross, it’s the only wisdom that saves and transforms (1 Cor 1:18-21). No internet feed, ideology or human wisdom can accomplish any of these things.

    “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate” (1 Cor 1:18).

  • Sharpening your sword

    Sharpening your sword

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    Series: PPE for the Christian Life

    “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).

    Last week I wrote about the Christian’s sixth item of armoury, which Christ himself has issued to every one of his recruits. It is the sword of the Spirit, God’s own timeless revelation of truth to us. I spoke about how vital it is for a Christian to know the whole counsel of God, rather than just snippets of Scripture, which we can so easily mould to suit our own desires and beliefs, or blend with whatever’s trending in culture. It is only by understanding the Bible as a whole book, that we will be able to interpret and apply God’s word as God intended. It is also the only way we will be equipped to recognise and refute false ideas and false teachers who distort and twist God’s word for their own ends. The Bible is the only offensive weapon that Christ has given us to stand firm and strong in the great spiritual war we are fighting on earth. We’d better make sure it is sharp and held firmly in our hands! This week I came across an article by one of my favourite contemporary writers, Scott Hubbard, titled “The Quiet Power of Ordinary Devotions,” which reminds us of how a Christian sharpens his/her sword in ordinary, everyday life. I thought I’d share it with you today. Next week we will wrap up our series on “PPE for the Christian life” by looking at the vital role of prayer in spiritual warfare.

    The Quiet Power of Ordinary Devotions

    Article by Scott Hubbard, Editor of Desiringgod.org.

    As Christians, we are not interested in merely reading our Bibles. We want to be moved, inspired, changed by what we read. We do not wake up early simply to pass our eyes over the pages of Scripture. We come to meet God (1 Samuel 3:21). We come to taste honey and gather gold (Psalm 19:10). We come to “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8). That means days of ordinary devotions, as we’ve all experienced, can be all the more disappointing.

    As any faithful Bible reader knows, many devotional times come and go without fireworks. We may get alone, ask for God’s help, read attentively, and then rise up feeling — normal. Our time in the living, active, inspired word of God has felt spectacularly ordinary.

    Sometimes, the ordinariness comes as a result of our lingering blindness to glory. I, for one, feel a kinship with those disciples on the Emmaus road, to whom Jesus said, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). God save us from foolish minds and slow hearts, which so often close our eyes to the light of his revelation.

    “The grace of God sometimes lands on us like lighting, and sometimes falls like dew.”

    Yet the cause does not always lie in us. If we are reading our Bibles rightly, in fact, we should expect many mornings of ordinary devotions: devotions that do not sparkle with insight or direct-to-life application, but that nevertheless do us good. Just as most meals are ordinary, but still nourish, and just as most conversations with friends are ordinary, but still deepen affection, so most devotions are ordinary, but still grow us in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

    Saturated with Scripture

    As a new Christian in college, I carried in my pocket a packet of Scripture-memory cards from the Navigators. On one of the first cards, I found 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” I believed Paul’s words readily, having felt firsthand the profit of books like John and Romans, Philippians and James. Scarcely did I realize then, however, that Paul would have thought first of passages quite different from these — passages from which I struggled then (and still do now) to find the same kind of encouragement.

    Consider, for example, some of the God-breathed, profitable Scripture Paul had in mind as he wrote 2 Timothy:

    • Solomon’s discussion of wisdom in Proverbs 2:6 (2 Timothy 2:7)
    • Isaiah’s prophecy of the cornerstone in Isaiah 28:16 (2 Timothy 2:19)
    • The story of Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16 (2 Timothy 2:19)
    • The account of the Egyptian magicians in Exodus 7–9 (2 Timothy 3:8)

    Few of us would dip into these passages for immediate edification. Few of us would offer them as our first illustrations of God-breathed, profitable Scriptures. Many of us, after stumbling through such pages of God’s word, emerge on the other side feeling unchanged, uninspired — ordinary.

    We can strive to avoid such experiences, of course, by staying safely in those parts of Scripture where we have felt God’s breath most powerfully. And yet, if we want a soul not merely sprinkled but saturated with God’s words, our only option is to carry on a long, patient acquaintance with passages that seem obscure. With passages that, upon first, second, or even fifth reading, leave us feeling quite ordinary afterward, but that slowly reveal the scope of God’s glory and make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

    Devotions Without a Devotional

    Perhaps our impatience with days of ordinary devotions comes from the expectation that daily devotions should be like devotionals. A devotional gathers perhaps a month’s or a year’s worth of daily readings, each designed to give a boost toward Godward thinking and living. And the best of them do so quite well.

    Daily devotionals have a place in the Christian life. (I would have to ditch Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening if I thought otherwise.) Yet we do well to remember that, in giving us Scripture, God did not intend to give us a typical daily devotional. If he had, the chronicler might have spared us his genealogies, Ezekiel might have skipped his extended temple vision, and the author of Hebrews might have left out Melchizedek.

    If a daily devotional is like a photo album, with each page offering a self-contained snapshot of glory, Scripture itself is like a mural, with each day’s reading comprising only a centimeter of the whole. Some days, we happen upon a centimeter bright with glory, perhaps Psalm 23 or Romans 8. Other days, a dark image appears before us, as when we read prophecies or stories of judgment. Still other days, we find a section that simply mystifies us, the kind that we would never find in a daily devotional.

    Over time, though, we begin to grasp a glory in this mural that a snapshot could never give: a swirl of brightness and darkness, clarity and obscurity that coalesces into a masterpiece. And on those days, we will not wish that we had stayed safely within the snapshots of glory.

    Grace Like Dew

    We can rarely judge the value of our daily devotions, then, by considering any day in itself. In fact, initial impressions can deceive. High-octane devotions do not always lead to spiritual growth, and ordinary devotions often yield more fruit than we expect. J.C. Ryle once preached,

    “Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are the most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced. Think of the influence of the moon upon the earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading”.

    “Ordinary devotions are not the enemy. Like the manna in the wilderness, they too are from God.”

    The grace of God sometimes lands on us like lighting, and sometimes falls like dew. During some devotions, God places us in the cleft of the rock and lets us catch the trailing edge of his glory as he passes by (Exodus 33:18–23). During others, he shrouds us in darkness so that we cannot see (Isaiah 50:10). Yet if we read patiently and faithfully, not trusting in our wisdom but crying out for God’s, then the grace of God, though perhaps hidden in the moment, will in due time reveal its silent working.

    Sometimes, then, we do well to ask of our morning devotions not “What were my feelings?” but “What, over time, are the effects?” Regardless of what I feel on any given morning, am I coming to treasure more of Christ’s multifaceted glories? Is God’s word making me a more holy husband, wife, brother, sister, friend? Am I growing in my readiness for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17)?

    Manna and Milk

    Ordinary devotions, of course, are not the ideal. We do not hope to come to our Bibles and walk away unmoved — or, worse, confused. We hope rather to “behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18) and walk away full of praise. And when this hope is deferred, it too can make the heart sick.

    Yet neither are ordinary devotions the enemy. Like the manna in the wilderness, they too are from God. They too nourish and sustain us, even if imperceptibly. If we will patiently, faithfully eat the food God provides, ordinary days will give way to the milk and honey we long to taste again.

    And in the meantime, how good it is for us to be thrown back on God, knowing more deeply than ever that if we are to see at all, he must give us sight. How good to sing with the psalmist, “As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us” (Psalm 123:2). In God’s good time, if we do not give up, the unfolding of his words will give light (Psalm 119:130).

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”center center” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”2%” margin_top=”2%” margin_bottom=”2%” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Receive our latest devotion in your Inbox[/fusion_title][fusion_code]Q2xpY2sgZWRpdCBidXR0b24gdG8gY2hhbmdlIHRoaXMgY29kZS4=[/fusion_code][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Other devotions from the God Walk…[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_recent_posts layout=”default” hover_type=”none” columns=”3″ number_posts=”6″ offset=”” cat_slug=”devotion” exclude_cats=”” thumbnail=”yes” title=”yes” meta=”no” excerpt=”yes” excerpt_length=”0″ strip_html=”yes” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_recent_posts][fusion_text]– more devotions –[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Honey for the heart

    Honey for the heart

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]It’s amazing how much my family loves honey! I buy a big jar of pure raw honey every week and it gets flattened within a few days because we drizzle it over everything– from rooibos tea and sticky chicken, to French toast with bacon! Honey is a sweet treat that makes everything taste better. But there’s no reward in just buying a jar of pure honey and staring at it on the shelf. We need to break the seal and get sticky! That’s how David saw God’s word—sweeter than honey and more valuable than anything money can buy. For those who take it to heart there are great rewards. As we saw last week, we can know many things about God when we look at his spectacular skies, but we can only know God personally when we respond to the truth of the gospel told in the Bible. If God himself is the author of every page of Scripture, His clear and convicting voice is not a nasty medicine to swallow, but a sweet treat to savour and digest. His word is the source of pure, undiluted truth spoken in love. It is soothing honey that brings  healing and life to people who are broken and dead. David reminds us of this today as we continue in Psalm 19:

    Psalm 19:7-11

    The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
    the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
    8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
    the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
    9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
    the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
    10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
    sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
    11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward!

    Sweet drippings of the soul!

    The reward of reading God’s word with a responsive heart is deep soul satisfaction, like sweet honey that never stops dripping. Paradoxically, we can only experience this satisfaction when we fear the Lord as David did– when we tremble at his word (Ps 19:9; Isa 66:5).

    The Apostle Peter reminds Christians that every person who lives will also die. Our achievements are no more permanent than wild flowers and our opinions and words will be buried with us too. In contrast, God’s imperishable ‘word’ is immortal. It remains relevant and true in every generation. It tells the story of God’s unlikely rescue mission to do away with sin and give us eternal life. That’s why Peter calls God’s word the ‘seed’ of our rebirth. The ‘living and enduring word of God’ is fundamental to our birth and growth as God’s children. We neglect it at our peril! (1 Peter 1:23, 24, 25).

    The Bible is not just a fad to froth over, or a book of sage suggestions. It is as vital to the Christian life as milk is to a newborn baby and bread to a hungry soul (Matt 4:1-4; 1 Peter 2:2). We cannot expect to grow up in our salvation without it, just as malnourished babies don’t thrive…and sometimes don’t survive.  A taste of God’s goodness is not enough to sustain us for the long haul of life (1 Peter 2:3).

    The Reward is in the keeping!

    In Psalm 19:11, David says:

    “By them your servant is warned;

    In keeping them there is great reward.”

    The reward is not linked to knowing or owning a Bible, but to keeping its commands and holding the word close to our chest. Nor is the reward only found in the encouraging promises, but also in the warnings we get when our hearts are cut by God’s double edged-sword. It is good to search the Scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to undress our thoughts and attitudes before the eyes of God who searches our hearts (Heb 4:12-13).

    Divine exposure is good news for those who want to change!

    There is an implicit warning in Psalm 19 not to revise, edit, or cut-and-paste the Bible to suit ourselves. It is tempting to tailor the truth to dodge offense, but the Lord’s precepts are forever perfect, right, firm, wise and trustworthy (Ps 19:8-9). Instead of being ashamed, we are to ‘guard the good deposit,’ rightly handle the word of truth  (2 Tim 2:14, 15), beware of those who distort it (2 Peter 3:16) and examine the Scriptures every day to check man’s word against God’s (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 2:13). This is not only the job of the pastor, but all God’s workers!

    Are you ‘keeping’ the clear teaching of God’s word, or do you find yourself bowing to man’s opinions? Jesus is our perfect example of how to keep and speak the truth in love.

    The reward is in the eating!

    The real reward of honeycomb is the energy it gives. This reward comes from ingestion and digestion, not just the sweet taste on our lips! Here are some of the lifelong rewards David links to reading the Bible with a responsive heart—

    Life and refreshment for the soul (Ps 19:7), wisdom, clarity and guidance from God (Ps 19: 7-8) and deep joy and delight (Ps 19:8, 10). Compare these rewards to the shortlived gains of media and entertainment.

    If we constantly listen to human voices rather than God’s, our souls will ultimately be drained, confused and unsatisfied. But the voice of God has the power to renew, refresh and guide us uniquely each time we open our heart to the Bible. Each of its 66 books is relevant and true, with fresh application to our lives every day.

    God’s laws are never burdensome but are the perfect framework to enable men, women and children to thrive and become everything we were designed to be (1 John 5:3). His commands are like a river bank that prevents its waters from flooding. Or like a fireplace in which a fire can safely burn without burning the house to ashes. Jesus himself reminded us to follow Him “for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:30). God’s commands are not a long list of taboos to make life miserable.

    For those who trust the Bible as their final authority, it has the power to set us free and satisfy our deepest longings—for belonging, purpose, identity and fulfillment (John 10:10). That is why it is honey for the heart.

    Let’s believe David and drip sweet satisfying honey into our hearts every day!

    Pray

    Father, I praise you for the privilege and joy of your life-giving word to renew, refresh and guide me every day of my life. It is honey for my heart and I want it to stick. Thank you that the Bible holds up a timeless mirror to my soul, answers life’s big questions and offers hope against despair. Lord, thank you that you have not left us to wander in the dark, confused and far from you. I am still stunned by the way you stooped down into this world to make yourself known to us through your creation, your written word and the Living Word, your Son Jesus. Holy Spirit, give me eager ears to hear your voice in the Bible and engrave your word in my heart as I read it. Give me the grace to live it out honestly until you take me home.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Worship

    Listen to this classic song by Amy Grant.
    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”center center” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”2%” margin_top=”2%” margin_bottom=”2%” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Receive our latest devotion in your Inbox[/fusion_title][fusion_code]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[/fusion_code][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Other devotions from the God Walk…[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_recent_posts layout=”default” hover_type=”none” columns=”3″ number_posts=”6″ offset=”” cat_slug=”devotion” exclude_cats=”” thumbnail=”yes” title=”yes” meta=”no” excerpt=”yes” excerpt_length=”0″ strip_html=”yes” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_recent_posts][fusion_text]– more devotions 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