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“"Turning the Word Upside Down"”

Thoughts for Today:

Previously, Paul said the transformed lives of the Corinthians were a far greater testimony, than any letter written with ink. In our passage today, he tells us "the Spirit of the living God" is the true author.

Jeremiah 31:33: "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Ezekiel 36:26: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

The Bible as we know it, wasn't fully codified until several decades after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet, even without the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- or Paul's epistles -- the early church still turned the world upside down. How? Because they understood and experienced the reality of the New Covenant. No longer would God's Law be external regulations written on tablets of stone. Instead, something new would happen. He would now write His will and desires upon their hearts individually. So when Paul's letters were written and eventually circulated, they only served as further confirmation of what the Lord had been speaking to them about for years.

All too often, in modern Christianity, instead of listening to our hearts, we have a tendency to follow what we perceive to be regulations found in the New Testament. As a result, we miss the power of the Word. The Bible then becomes an unbearable legalistic burden. The light is gone, the joy evaporates, and we wonder why we don't see Jesus actively working in our lives any longer. The Bible is not to take the place of the New Covenant (the new work of the Lord on our hearts); rather, it should be confirming what the Lord has been speaking to us about internally. Otherwise we'll become dry, legalistic believers, and miss the excitement and adventure of the Spirit-infused Christian experience.

Questions to Ponder:

The Lord's voice is a gentle urging: "Talk to that person, give to the one who is without, and love those who are in need." What is the Lord speaking to you about today? Is it confirmed in the Word? Will you obey? Has your Christian walk become dull and boring? Listen to the Lord and He will provide a newness and fresh inspiration, which can only be found in Him.

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There's nothing like God's Word to create purpose in your life that lasts the entire day and beyond. We encourage you to Read, Carry and Share the Word of God. Pocket Devotions are sent by E-mail every weekday (Monday to Friday). On weekends we encourage you to be creative and study on your own in any area of Scripture where God leads you.

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.