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It seems we have slipped into a lot of assumptions lately about the Lord and His Word. This slip has been the result of those who preach from the Book of Assumptions. That book is not in the Bible, but it is still quoted from by those who do not dig deep enough and let the Bible comment on itself. Otherwise called 'guessing." I am not much into commentaries, but when I do get a 'second observation' about a verse or line in the Bible, I make sure it is from a reliable source. God has made me so sensitive to following the Word of God only; I even bristle some when I hear a preacher say, "It doesn't really say anything in the Bible about this, but in my opinion..." Paul spoke to this very subject in Colossians 1, and the scriptures are listed below.

Colossians 1: ²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. ²⁴ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. ²⁵ God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

A.W. Tozer wrote in his book Experiencing God's Presence, God's words are not for me to edit and tinker with, but to believe and obey. I agree, and the watering down of the gospel has been the enemy's plan from the beginning. Satan has been trying to talk us out of following God's Word from the beginning. God gave Adam and Eve instructions about what to do when eating from certain trees, and Satan questioned that word. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan misquoting Scripture, and Jesus, who is the Word, quoted back what it really said, and Satan had to leave Him alone. The tendency to 'hedge' and make our own version of the perfect Word of God is something we need to be cognizant of, and hold our ground by trusting the Word.

Our heavenly Father has gifted wisdom to us, and that wisdom becomes all it should be when He reveals the truth through His Word. Let the Word be the final word, and true wisdom will be realized.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren