A.I.???  Yes?  Or No?      A Word from THE WORD!!! #315

I was going to take off on something the pastor said yesterday at church about not neglecting our relationship with Jesus; his point being, we don’t take vacation from our Lord, His Word and our intimate relationship with him.  As I was preparing to write this post, I got the repeated request to “OK” the AI on my laptop, and of course I intentionally ignored it; I like my own thoughts, thank you. Then as I open up my office app, it’s offering their version of AI!  I’m not averse to help, but I don’t think I’m ready for their next step yet (whoever ‘they’ are?).  How about you.

Yet in thinking about all the hype about AI, I’d like to point out some similarities to our personal spiritual life and this AI craze.

“For I would that ye knew what great conflict

I have for you,

and for them at Laodicea,

and for as many as have not seen my face

in the flesh;

2 That their hearts might be comforted,

being knit together in love,

and unto all riches of the full assurance

of understanding,

to the acknowledgement

of the mystery of God,

and of the Father,

and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid

all the treasures of wisdom

and knowledge.

4 And this I say,

lest any man should beguile you

with enticing words.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh,

yet am I with you in the spirit,

joying and beholding your order,

and the stedfastness of your faith

in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received

Christ Jesus the Lord,

so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him,

and stablished in the faith,

as ye have been taught,

abounding therein

with thanksgiving.”   Colossians 2:1-7

Paul was writing this letter to believers whom he had not met personally, but he had heard about their faith in Jesus and wanted to encourage them in their faith and a continued walk in Jesus!  Take note that Paul warned them about being beguiled with “enticing words”!  Paul wanted us to know as well as them, that we must stand fast in this “evil day”!  What does that mean for you and me?  It means what the old folks used to say when I was younger, “every pot has to sit on its own bottom”—interpretation—you need to keep your relationship with Jesus real, and only you can do that as you study God’s Word, spending time in prayer and pursuit of God, His Word, His ways; and amazingly He has promised to provide all that we need when we walk in fellowship with our Lord Jesus!

As we examine more of Paul’s teaching, take note of the context for some familiar verses, it may help us to understand them more accurately.

“I know both how to be abased,

and I know how to abound:

every where

and in all things

I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry,

both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things

through Christ which strengtheneth me.

14 Notwithstanding ye have well done,

that ye did communicate with my affliction…

…16 For even in Thessalonica

ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

17 Not because I desire a gift:

but I desire fruit that may abound

to your account.

18 But I have all,

and abound:

I am full,

having received of Epaphroditus

the things which were sent from you,

an odour of a sweet smell,

a sacrifice acceptable,

wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.” Portions of Philippians 4:12-19

Are we doing our ‘due diligence’, so to speak, to be found faithful, or are we leaning more on others to keep us afloat?  I knew of a preacher who told his congregation that they didn’t need to bring a Bible to church, for he would tell them everything they needed to know!!!! NOT!  We are impelled to draw near to our God through His Word ourselves!!!  If we haven’t studied God’s Word and you’re not following along with your Pastor, how will you be able to discern truth from false?

One of Paul’s imperatives to Timothy and to us is to study for ourselves!  Without our own personal intimacy with God’s Word we can easily become one of those whom Paul warns us about, “lest any man should beguile you with enticing words”; we can become the beguiled!  Just as Eve believed the lies of the enemy of our souls; Satan is still at work deceiving, misleading, troubling and confusing God’s own—and he does it well and continually (but remember if we “resist devil…he will flee!”).  God’s Word is our defense, as it is the lifeline to our Redeemer.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”   2 Timothy 2:15-16

I know we talked about this recently, yet I feel compelled to remind us again to get into God’s Word, and don’t leave it behind on “vacation”, or times of rest—keep it near you, with you, and most importantly, “In You”!   What we commit to memory, no one can steal!   Also remember that as we learn to be “rightly dividing the word of truth”, it is implied here that the word can be “wrongly” divided—and there are a plethora of false teachers on every hand!  Beware my friends, by getting into God’s Word for yourself, and teach it to you children and grandchildren—reinforce the truth not the lies!

“And that from a child

thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise

unto salvation

through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

 for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Where’s your Bible?  Does it need dusting off?  As an old adage says, “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”  May we heed the wisdom of Solomon, as individuals in our daily walk, as parents/grandparents, leading our children to the cross (rather than to hell); as we sow and reap, may we be faithful stewards of God’s truth not the lies of the devil, what we sow will produce a crop—are you ready for your harvest?  May we all allow The Word to do its Work in us! If you don’t read it, you’ll never know what it says!  God says what He means, and He means what He says—but praise His name He is gracious, merciful and longsuffering toward our weaknesses and failures!  May God’s blessing abound upon your life.

“The way of the wicked is as darkness:

they know not at what they stumble.

20 My son,

attend to my words;

incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes;

keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them,

and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence;

for out of it

are the issues of life.”   Proverbs 4:19-23

Amen and Amen!!!