"It is Written...do you know What is Written?"
“I’m Just Sayin’”
by Alan P. Scaglione
As my daily devotional, I’m reading the New Testament again, starting in Matthew. For me, every time I do this, I learn something new that applies fresh to my life and to my spirit. His Word really is life!
So I’m reading in Matthew 4 where Jesus is in the wilderness for 40 days, fasting and praying.
Hmmm… fasting AND praying?
How many of us even fast anymore?
Waiting for the microwave to hurry up and cook your food does NOT count as fasting!
For 40 days? Really? Who still does this?
I can tell you that my wife and I fast the first 21 days of each year—sacrificing something that means more to us than food—TV!!
For us, turning off all television for 21 days, spending our evenings in prayer, contemplation, meditating on the Word, just starts our year out right!
We started this at our last church, and I know they still do it each year. We don’t attend there anymore, but it was a good habit to continue.
Reading this passage, it says Jesus was hungry. See, He was 100% man and 100% God.
After 40 days, who wouldn’t be hungry? Who are we kidding? Go 4 hours past our normal meal time, and you may need to hide sharp edges!
Then it happened—the devil tempted Him!
And each time…Jesus said the same thing--- IT IS WRITTEN!
WOW! Here’s the Son of God, who could just say POOF be gone!
But instead, He used the Scripture to respond to the temptation!
Made me wonder?
Who knows scripture anymore?
I know I’m old school, but…
I was raised on Sword Drills! Not the “slice you in half because it’s too sharp to touch” kind of sword…
No, the “two edged, cutting to the bone and marrow” kind of sword—the Word of God!
We would close our Bibles, and someone would yell out a scripture verse, and we would have to be the first one to find it!
We also memorized verses and got rewarded for knowing the scripture! Of course, we also had Sunday School classes!
I know, I know…most of you have turned me off already, but…humor me, read on just a few more minutes, please.
We have become a nation that does not know the Word of God!
We can’t quote it, we can’t reference it, we can’t respond with it—we are Scripture Illiterate!
What if we applied this to our Constitution?
How many know the 1st amendment? The 4th amendment? The 5th amendment?
We use them to defend our rights as U.S. citizens!
What about when someone challenges why you believe what you believe as a heavenly citizen?
What scripture do you reference to respond with the Word, just like Jesus said…”It Is Written!”
The average Christian these days doesn’t spend time in the Word…they are too busy with Facebook or their IPhone!
They have an app for the Word, but…it never gets used…much less taking time to memorize the scripture.
The Word says, “Thy Word have I hidden in my heart so I might not sin against Thee!”
But… that’s just not a priority these days--disappointing God with the sin in our lives!
Everyone is so politically correct, even in the church. It’s not sin, it’s a “problem I’m dealing with” or “God understands why I can’t stop it!”
We are scripturally illiterate -- a nation that is no longer God fearing! The only place we trust God is where it’s printed on our money!
Hosea 4:6 says “My People perish for a lack of knowledge!”
It Is Written!
Do you know What Is Written?
Maybe…It’s Time to Find Out!
Until Next Time
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your Blog. I had to smile though when I read you were reading Matthew 4, So am I. I have a Bible app on my cellphone and read it when I am sitting upstairs with the woman I am caring for. She naps a lot and watches TV programs that I do not care for, so I read the bible. I try not to read to much at one sitting though. I like to take time to think about what I read. That way I can reflect on any messages or lessons the Lord is trying to reveal to me at that reading.
Have a Great Day and God Bless & Your Blog,
Tammy