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August 16, 2021 8:00 pm
Billy Graham, the renowned American evangelist, once described his struggle to accept the Bible as completely true. One night as he walked alone in the moonlight at a retreat center in the San Bernardino Mountains, he dropped to his knees and placed his Bible on a tree stump, able only to “stutter” a prayer: “Oh God! There are many things in this book I do not understand.”
By confessing his confusion, Graham said the Holy Spirit finally “freed me to say it. ‘Father, I am going to accept this as thy Word—by faith!’” When he stood up, he still had questions. But “I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won.”
The young prophet Jeremiah fought spiritual battles too. Yet he consistently sought answers in Scripture. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16). As he declared, “the word of the Lord . . . is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:8–9). Nineteenth-century evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote, “[Jeremiah] lets us into a secret. His outer life, especially his faithful ministry, was due to his inward love of the word which he preached.”
We too can shape our life through the words of Scripture despite our struggles. We can keep studying, as always, by faith.
I'm glad you can join us for this daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Today's reading is titled trusting the Bible. It was written by Patricia Raven Billy Graham, the renowned American evangelist once described his struggle to accept the Bible as completely true. One night as he walked alone in the moonlight at a retreat center in the San Bernardino Mountains dropped to his knees and placed his Bible on a tree stump able only to stutter a prayer. Oh God. There are many things in this book.
I do not understand by confessing his confusion. Graham said the Holy Spirit finally freed me to say it. Father, I am going to accept this as thy word.
My faith when he stood up he still had questions, but he said I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won the young prophet Jeremiah fought spiritual battles to yet he consistently sought answers in Scripture saying in chapter 15.
When your words came, I ate them they were my joy and my heart's delight, he declared in chapter 20 the word of the Lord is in my heart like a fire of fire shut up in my bones 19th century evangelist Charles Spurgeon Road. Jeremiah lets us into a secret's outer life, especially his faithful ministry was due to his inward love of the word which he preached. We too can shape our life through the wisdom of Scripture. Despite our struggles we can keep studying.
As always, by faith, today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Jeremiah chapter 15 verses 15 through 21.
Lord, you understand, remember me and care for me, avenge me on my persecutors.
You are long-suffering do not take me away.
Think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. When your words came, I ate them they were my joy in my heart's delight, for I bear your name Lord God Almighty I never sat in the company of revelers never made Mary with them. I said alone, because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain on ending in my wound grievous and incurable. You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails therefore this is what the Lord says if you repent, I will restore you, that you may serve me if you utter worthy not worthless words you will be my spokesman let this people turn to you but you must not turn to them.
I will make you a wall to this people a fortified wall of bronze. They will fight against you, but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you, declares the Lord. I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.
Let's pray father. A lot of what we read in the Bible is hard to believe yet. Centuries of believers have had their lives molded and formed by you through the words and wisdom we find in it. When we read things we struggle to believe helpless Lord not to get stuck in our disbelief but reveal the wisdom you want us to receive and it that we may grow to be more and more like you. Thank you Lord it's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
