They that are unlearned and unstable wrest. . . the . . . scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:16.
The position that it is of no consequence what men believe is one of Satan’s most successful deceptions. He knows that the truth, received in the love of it, sanctifies the soul of the receiver; therefore he is constantly seeking to substitute false theories, fables, another gospel. . . .
The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture, and the many conflicting theories concerning religious faith, that are found in the Christian world are the work of our great adversary to confuse minds so that they shall not discern the truth. And the discord and division which exist among the churches of Christendom are in a great measure due to the prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to support a favorite theory. Instead of carefully studying God’s word with humility of heart to obtain a knowledge of His will, many seek only to discover something odd or original.
In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practices, some will seize upon passages of Scripture separated from the context, perhaps quoting half of a single verse as proving their point, when the remaining portion would show the meaning to be quite the opposite. With the cunning of the serpent they entrench themselves behind disconnected utterances construed to suit their carnal desires. Thus do many willfully pervert the word of God. Others, who have an active imagination, seize upon the figures and symbols of Holy Writ, interpret them to suit their fancy, with little regard to the testimony of Scripture as its own interpreter, and then they present their vagaries as the teachings of the Bible.
Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a prayerful, humble, teachable spirit, the plainest and simplest as well as the most difficult passages will be wrested from their true meaning. . . . The Word of God is plain to all who study it with a prayerful heart. Every truly honest soul will come to the light of truth. “Light is sown for the righteous.” Psalm 97:11. And no church can advance in holiness unless its members are earnestly seeking for truth as for hid treasure.
Maranatha p. 138
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Prayer Requests
—– Mary lost her husband recently and needs our prayers. Her bills are due and the red tape is taking too long. Please pray for God to meet all her needs. Fran
——I am requesting prayers for the Philippines as it is being bushwhacked again by a ravaging whirlwind of typhoon/hurricane. My family is at the pathway where this storm would ravage the most & the strongest. Mary
—– Man lost in Sitka. Please pray! Pastor Nathan
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Dear Friends,
When I was eight, my mother had the opportunity to go to Nashville, Tennessee during the Christmas holidays with a friend of hers named Don, who was a nightclub singer. He was on his way to Florida to sing in a nightclub there. To see a show at the Grand Ol’ Oprey in Nashville had been a dream of hers as she loved country-western music. She took me along. We had a wonderful time. She was more relaxed and happy than I had seen her up to that point. She was very grateful to Don for inviting her.
Over the years, my mother lost track of Don as he went from one small nightclub to another. She talked of him sometimes, though. He had been raised in the church, but had never given his life to Jesus. As he got older and found that he had a real talent for singing, he began to desire a career in the entertainment industry. Instead of committing his life to Jesus and letting Him lead, he gave himself totally to the persuit of show business. The fame that he was sure he deserved eluded him, and he spent his life in small clubs singing for people whose minds were clouded by alcohol. He was not really happy. He had no family, no true friends, nothing but what he could carry in his car. His was a wasted life.
How much different Don’s life would have been had he used the musical talents that our Great Creator had given him for God’s glory. Jesus told a story about our use of the talents He has given to each of us. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt 25:14-30
May we use all of our talents for our Wonderful Saviour’s glory. And, as we do, may we daily “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
Rose