I had the privilege of attending a prayer service hosted by our local city council members.  One of the speakers reminded me of a quote by the late Mother Theresa. “Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other…”.

“Sing to the LORD a new song because he has done wonderful things! His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory!” (Psalm 98:1, CEB).

     My youngest son is an adventurous soul. He is a white-water rafting guide. A few years ago, the insisted that his parents take a trip down the river with him. To compound the excitement, the river was swollen from heavy rains. What typically is a leisurely level three experience turned into a level four thrill ride into the bowels of doom.

“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 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
 

     Ten years ago, I was holding a Bible study with a group of middle school students at the Brice Christian Academy in Columbus, Ohio. I was not surprised when asked this question: “How do we really know that the Bible is true?” It’s actually a good question given the fact that the Bible was written over a period of 1600 years, by no less than thirty different authors.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”. (Micah 6:8, NRSV)

     Christians are notorious for their selective hearing. My wife is threatening to buy me hearing aids so that I have no more excuses for missing her pleas to take out the garbage. The same principle is true with respect to hearing God’s word through the Scriptures. Too often we cherry-pick the passages that fit our constructs and beliefs while giving less weight to the Scriptures that do not.