Check The Manual

John 5:39 – You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (NKJV)

During the early days of my working career, I was the project accountant on a big pipeline project. One day, I was talking to the instrumentation engineer, the person who designed the instruments which could remotely operate the various valves and pump stations on the 400-kilometre pipeline. I was just fascinated by all the knowledge that he had. I asked him how he could remember all these details. His reply was, "I can only remember some of it, but I know where to look for the rest of it." When I thought about that, I realized that in my part of the project, I did the same. I had my accounting manuals; I kept information from previous projects, and I adapted them to suit the present one.

Every once in a while, we will have the opportunity with someone to discuss the Christian faith, the relevance of Scripture, or about God, Jesus, death, resurrection, etc. Sometimes, we are taken to task, and words fail us; we just can't come up with the answer. Then it is time to check The Manual, God's Word. I sometimes need to do that when I am writing a devotional like this one. Many years ago, we had to rely on our memory and literally search the Scriptures for appropriate Bible texts. These days, we have the advantage of the Internet, and we can google a lot of passages and very quickly get the information that we need.

One of the passages, which, I think, brings the whole gospel together, was written by Paul to the people in Rome. It is one of my favourite Bible passages. I like to cite this passage quite often.

Romans 8:31-35 – What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (NKJV)

God is with us. He gave His Son to die for us, but He also arose. The whole truth of the gospel is contained in these few verses. When words fail us, when we don't know the answers, search the Bible!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, there are so many times when we have trouble remembering relevant Bible passages, and when we do, we pray that we will look at Your Word, knowing that You will guide us. We thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.

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