Be still and know...

Today's devo will be kinda short, but I think it'll have a lot of meaning for a lot of people. You know how when you get anxious or worried, you can't stop fidgeting?

Psalm 46:1-11 ASV

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof.   There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God will help her, and that right early.   The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted. Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.   Come, behold the works of Jehovah, What desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariots in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

The psalmist writes "Be still, and know that I am God." Next time you're anxious or worried, stop fidgeting around and let the knowledge that God is there for you wash over you like a calming rain. Let it soothe you in the way that nothing else can. And, most importantly, share that feeling with others by telling them the wonderful news of God and Christ!

In Christian love,
- Ethan

Why should I study?

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul writes to Timothy:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

How can we handle the word of truth if all we know is what someone else tells us? Sometimes I think that many people today just leave the studying and teaching to preachers and teachers. It's comparable to an infomercial. Someone talks for about 30 minutes, trying to sell us their point of view on how best to do a specific task (in this case, how to please God), and we just sit there and listen.

In verses 20-22, Paul writes:

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.  So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

In order to learn how to please the Lord, we have to cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable. The only way to learn how to do that is to study for ourselves. It's like the infomercial example - I can't count the number of times I've seen infomercials that make preposterous claims about the validity of their product in losing weight quickly.

Do these products work?

Usually, no.

Occasionally, one will, but how do we tell if it's any good? We do the research ourselves and learn how we can best become fit, then see if the product fits within that body of research. Don't be that person who buys into the preposterous claims of infomercial preachers. You won't be wasting your money, you'll be wasting your soul.

Study - it's the only way to know.

With Christian love,
Ethan