God's Word vs. human words

Walking in the Truth

Today's Truth from Scripture

Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony . . . and many more believed because of His word." John 4:39, 41

Devotional thoughts from Martin Luther *

"If only God would grant that my interpretation & that of all teachers would perish & that every Christian himself would take for himself the pure Scripture & the clear Word of God. You can see from my babbling how immeasurably different God's Word is from human words, & how no man with all his words is able sufficiently to attain to & elucidate a single Word of God. It is an infinite Word that must be grasped & contemplated with a quiet spirit, as the psalmist says, 'I will hear myself what God Himself speaks in me.' Psalm 85.8"

My devotional thoughts

• You are privileged to read devotional thoughts from a true Biblical scholar today.
• I am not a true Biblical scholar.
• Even Martin Luther disparages his own interpretation & teaching of Scripture in contrast to the actual Word of Scripture itself.
• Quiet time spent with God's Word, coupled with prayer informed by God's Word, has been & will continue to be indispensable to me on my faith walk.
• Did I mention quiet time? Quiet time is important . . . at least for one like me, who is easily distracted under the BEST of circumstances.
• It is dangerous to read God's Word with an agenda in mind.
• As the psalmist says, "I will hear myself what God Himself speaks in me."

* SOURCE:  Martin Luther Day by Day, Concordia Publishing House, edited by David Weinstock. [NOTE:  You don't have to be a Lutheran to appreciate these daily devotionals. I highly recommend it. Today's Scriptural Truth accompanied Luther's devotional thoughts. There is a daily scriptural truth & devotional for each day of the week.]

Today's prayer thought

Thank the Lord for His clear & holy Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit & proclaimed in the Bible. Ask Him to guide you in your quiet time, that you may grasp & contemplate it with a quiet spirit.

Missionary News

Lois & I have "adopted" two missionaries:  Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese, who are preparing to serve in Ghana & West Africa, probably beginning soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. [http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.

• Email: debra.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Email:  stuart.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreesesinAfrica/ (NOTE:  You don't need a Facebook account to view this page.)
• Website:  http://debrafreese.wix.com/freesesinafrica
• Giving Page:  http://www.lcms.org/freese