Something Old

John 14:26

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Good morning ladies,

Have you ever wondered how the early church knew what to do? I mean they didn’t have the Bible, at least not the New Testament and the writings they did have would have probably been in the hands of the religious leaders. Common people didn’t have their own personal set of scrolls.

That topic came up last night at Bible study while we were discussing Paul’s prayer for the Philippians in chapter one verse nine.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless

Obviously it was possible to gain knowledge and insight otherwise Paul would not have prayed it, but without the Bible where would it come from?

We were having a very intellectual debate when dear sweet eighty-year-old Myrtle said. “They must have listened to God.”

Duh.

We have so many resources at our finger tips, concordances, devotions, commentaries, radio programs and websites just to name a few. And that is great, but none of them are a substitute for learning to listen to God yourself.

Even the Bible, which is the inspired Word of God, is just a book if it is not read with the power of the Holy Spirit.

As a society we are enamored with new things. Old things are replaced not because they don’t work but just because they are old. Technology is so advanced it is amazing. Just in my life time I have seen records replaced by eight tracks which were replaced by cassettes which were replaced by CDs which have been replaced by Ipods and who knows what else. Which is all very cool and very fun but what works in the world does not work with God.

Two thousand years ago God sent the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead believers into all truth. And it may seem old-fashioned, but the system still works.

Love,
Jill