Daily Devotions
“The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” Romans 10:8
Several years ago Dr. Nelson Glueck, then president of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, stated that the copper mines of King Solomon in the Negev (southern part of Judea) had been found and that a copper-mining industry had been established there. He said that the presence of metals was indicated in Moses’ words that the Promised Land was “a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills” (Deuteronomy 8:9). This statement, he said, was verified, adding, “I have always gone on the assumption that the historical statements of the Bible are true.”
The biblical scholars at the time of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:3-6), as well as the Old Testament prophets, went on the assumption that the prophetic statements of the Bible were true. The purpose of the Bible is not to serve as a textbook on history or science, although its statements also in these areas are true. The purpose of divine revelation in the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures is to lead us to Jesus Christ so that, believing in Him as the Redeemer from sin and death, we may obtain eternal salvation. In our time no special star, no angelic song in the sky, no great miracle in nature leads us to Christ. So we rely on the “prophetic Word” of the Old Testament Scripture, confirmed by the New Testament Word of fulfillment.
In His love and wisdom God stated the truths of His Word in plain language. What we need to know and believe to be saved He stated in simple speech – not in mysterious prophecies, not in wisdom buried in philosophy, not in truths attainable only in the depth of the earth or in the clouds above. Saint Paul says, “The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” And right now it is in your eyes as you read this devotion.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God for giving us Your holy Word that brings us Christ, our only Savior. Amen.
(Devotions from “With Jesus Every Day” copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)