Shipbuilders back in the days of sailboats would prepare the masts for their ships.
They would go to the forest and find an appropriate tree, then they would clear out all the surrounding trees and leave that one standing, exposed to the wind and storms and total sunlight.
As the tree continued to mature, it would gain strength. The kind of strength it would need to be able to stand up in the storms at sea while holding a large sail.
But that tree would never gain that strength if it was just left among the other trees, shaded from the sun.
Peter says that the Bible is “completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
The light of God that he shined on the Bible writers, unique in all of history, makes the Bible stand alone as a special—yes, supernatural and miraculous—work of God.
The Bible stands alone, and stands strong like a tall, strong mast of a ship. Because the Bible stands alone, you never will.
You’ll never stand alone. You’ll never be helpless or lost. Forged through storm and by the light of God shining on the writers, the Bible stands taller and stronger than any other media or information you could ever consume.
It will take you through storms, through darkness and the clouds will break and the light of God will shine in your own heart.
PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, your Word stands tall and strong and I will too, when I rely on nothing else more than you Word. You have so much you want to tell me, so speak, Lord, I am listening. And I want to share with others. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Use the PRAY acronym.
- Praise (tell God what you appreciate about him)
- Repent (tell God about your sins, trust in his promises of forgiveness)
- Ask (go ahead, think big, or focus on a small detail, God wants to hear it all)
- Yield (talk to God about the next step after you say “Amen,” how you want faith to lead the way, how you are willing to be part of his answer and see it develop for your good)