“Read the book”   Isaiah 34:16-17

As I pen this weeks sermon thoughts, I am still grieving over my Mother’s (Gloria Dean Walker) passing.  I pray that we brought my Mother honor at her celebration of life service, and pray that we brought her Savior honor.  My heart aches over the heartache my Mother had in this life, but find peace and joy knowing Jesus has made all things new for her.  How do I know ? - I’ve read the book!  Not just any book, but God’s inspired word - the Bible!  My Mother searched out the scriptures and wrote down those that brought her particular help when she was grieving with the loss of Dad and failing in her own health.  Now those scriptures she penned down give me encouragement and strength. I’m encouraged knowing that the scriptures and the Holy Spirit is what sustained her these past three years and through that passage of death and into eternity - into the arms of her Savior and loved ones!

Our text encourages us to “search the book of the LORD, and read” -  knowing it came from God’s mouth and His Spirit seals it and brings every word to pass!  Jesus Himself said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” - Matt.24:35

We invest in a lot of things in this life, things that have ‘shelf life’ for this life only.  We would be wise to invest more into God’s word because it is the only thing that’s going to last.  If it were not for the promises of God’s word to my Mother I could not bear her passing.  My Mother was an evangelist at heart, she was burdened and prayed for the salvation of family and friends.

If you’re reading this and are not saved, find a bible and please read: 

John 3:16-18; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 10: 9; Romans 10:13;

1 John 5: 11-13; Revelation 3: 20; Revelation 20: 11-15; 2 Peter 3: 3-13.

It is well said, “we never master the text, but the text must master us!”

God help us to read the book!  To heed its warnings! To embrace its instructions!  To stand on its promises!  You won’t be sorry in this life or the one to come!  I am thankful that my Mother engaged in God’s word and that it transformed her life and the one’s she left behind.

We are all in that ‘valley of shadow of death’ that psalm 23 speaks of, but praise God we have the promise “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” too!

We must pass on and live out our faith too so that the next generation may know too  that - Jesus Christ is Lord!

In honor of my Mother and her Savior.

Pastor Rodney