Good Morning and Happy New Year,
But Jesus told him, “No! The scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
Cross-stitching was the trend when I was younger. It is tedious, time-consuming, and detail-demanding, but it produces beautiful tapestries when completed. My Sister gave me a cross-stitch piece she had in her possession that I had made for my grandmother many years ago. It is a remarkably simple pattern but contains a profound question. Have I let God’s word reflect who I am and who I want to become today? It would have to be assumed that one would know God’s Word to answer the question. I humbly admit that I had limited Biblical knowledge when I crafted the gift for my grandmother some forty-plus years ago.
This is the time of year when most people reflect on the past and make goals or resolutions for the upcoming year. I have entered the stage of life where I realize resolutions are unsuccessful if they are not accompanied by a genuine willingness to change. And the same is true of our Christian walk. Walking alongside the Lord in obedience requires the desire to be transformed according to His will. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Simply put, this means interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And for the renewal process to begin, God’s Word must be our source. There is truly no other way. The Bible is the inerrant word of God, and it is alive. It speaks to us in ways that no other person can. “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). We can only be whole when we spend time in the Word building a relationship with the Saviour of our souls. Nothing else completes us, especially anything this world has to offer.
The one simple question we started with reveals the need for a deeper level of spiritual commitment to reading God’s Word daily and allowing it to permeate our lives so that others can see the reflection of God’s Word in our lives. This is my New Year’s resolution; will you join me? And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.