ANCHOR DEVOTIONS MARCH 26, 2012

A Pleasing Shape

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
(2 TIMOTHY 2:15)

INSIGHT
HOW CAN WE LOVE GOD IF WE NEVER THINK ABOUT HIM AND WHAT HE'S SAID TO US? READ HIS WORD TODAY... AND THINK ABOUT IT.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Samuel 3-4
Psalm 121
1 Corinthians 15

John 7:16-18

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁶ Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. ¹⁷ If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. ¹⁸ He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

NEVER FORSAKEN [PART 3]
with J.J. Jasper


He's the God of the impossible, yet we tend forget this when a crisis happens in our own lives. One of the most profound stories in the New Testament helps us see the power of Jesus more clearly.

We've all seen bushes trimmed in geometric or animal shapes. They're called "topiary bushes." When gardeners grow a topiary bush, they install a wire shape and let the bush grow into it. Then they keep trimming the branches to make the bush grow in that shape. Trimming topiary bushes is tedious work, but it must be done regularly to keep the original pleasing shape.

Keeping sound doctrine is like that. Continue studying to make sure you believe the right things. Some think that because God's truth never changes, we never have to think about it once we have believed. But our world is always changing, challenging the way we apply God's truth to our lives. Without knowing it, we can end up with inaccurate beliefs.

Our beliefs are built on the solid truth of Jesus. We grow from Him like the topiary bush on its frame. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." One way we love Him with our mind is when we consider what we believe and how we apply it.


John 7:16-18