Cornerstone

Deut. 11:18-25 (19)

James S. Hewett tells that every Sunday morning the fifth graders would line up and recite a section of the creed that had been assigned to them. That continued well for awhile. Then one Sunday they began the class the same way. The first girl recited her line flawlessly: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Next, a boy, stood up and said: “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.” Then silence settled over the class. Finally, a little girl, spoke up loudly to say, “I’m sorry, sir, but the boy who believes in the Holy Ghost is absent today!”*

If we do not have a vital relationship with the God of the Word there is no way that we can properly learn the Word of God. Learning facts from the Word of God may help us to do well in a Bible Quiz but it certainly won’t shape our character so that we are more like Christ. Only when we are in love with the Author of the Book can we have an intense love for the Bible. Having this love for the Author and the Book we then must make a concentrated effort to blend the Word of God into our lives so that it is part of the fabric of our being that determines our motives, attitudes and actions.

*Adapted from Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 63.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Psalm 119:1-8 (2)

In this little town the speed limit was 25 mph EVERYWHERE! I was SO frustrated. Things had not gone well that morning. It was cold. My son didn’t want to get out of bed. We soon found that it had sleeted during the night. Ice covered my windshield. Then the car wouldn’t start. A jump start to the battery took more time. Ahead were slick roads, heavy traffic and 15 miles to the school

Traffic was moving at about 22 3/8 mph! If I hurried my son would not be tardy. Finally there was no one in front of me. We were 2 mile from school I had 2 minutes. I stepped on the accelerator.

Then I saw him. He was headed toward me. I glanced at my speedometer. I was driving at 35 mph. We met and passed. In my rearview mirror I watched him make a u-turn. His lights came on. As I pulled into the school parking lot, ON TIME, the city patrolman pulled in behind me.

I accomplished what I wanted to do. It seemed right at the time. Others would not have faulted me. Yet, I had to pay a fine. So it is with God=’s Word. It is our guide to a productive, happy life with Jesus. When we violate its precepts we must pay the consequences.

Dr. Gayle Woods