Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)

A local radio station is running a promotion to increase its daytime listeners. It's giving away coffee mugs with the station's call letters on them, asking listeners to drink coffee at work with the station's mugs. It promises listeners that, "if you have one of our coffee mugs, you're in control." That's quite a claim for a coffee mug! I thought all they were useful for was holding beverages, and displaying a snappy saying, like "I'd rather be on the golf course".

If you think about it for a moment, it's quite a slick promotion. It's tapping into some deep-seated fears in us that there are no fixed anchor points left in society. As the pace of society increases, we're getting the feeling that things are spinning out of control, and we'd sure like something solid we can grab and hold on to.

For those who make the choice, a firm handhold is right there. It's called the Bible. God's eternal Word has acted as a guide for people for thousands of years. People talk about ethics in politics and ethics in business. God has been talking to humanity about honesty and upright living since when "hard copy" was writing on a stone tablet. People have been using the Psalms for comfort and guidance during Jesus' time, and long before then.

God is in control of this earth, appearances to the contrary. I know the appearances can be quite contrary. God never promised us a trouble-free life. Quite the opposite! We are told that we are "born to trouble, as surely as sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). But the Word does say, five times, that God will never leave us or forsake us: Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Kings 8:57 and Hebrews 13:5.

What Christians have is the Word of God to nourish their minds and feed their spirits. Believers have God's Spirit to help and guide their lives in every situation. In addition to all that, Christians have the church as a group of local believers they can be a part of, for fellowship and guidance.

Coffee mugs have their place in society. If you could see me on the bus, going into work today, you'd see I have a large, take-out coffee in one hand, and a pocket Bible in the other. I'm sure these radio station mugs are great – to hold hot coffee. There's an old spiritual that says the whole world is in God's hand. Where else would you want it?

Prayer: Lord, in a world where, too often, people are wondering if You even exist, help us remember, You created the world, redeemed it and care for it and for us, day by day. Help those who have chosen to follow You to express that caring love to others around us. Amen.

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About the author:

Bruce M. Dinsmore <dinsmore@pathcom.com>
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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