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Listen while you read: "A Little Child The Saviour Came"1
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Isaiah 41:15 – Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. (KJV)
Did you receive a special present this past Christmas? I did.
First, I received a brand-new electric toothbrush from my son. My daughter had shared that I was complaining that the toothbrush I was using stopped after less than two minutes. Now, I have a new one that operates very efficiently for five minutes. It works in the morning and then again in the evening just as if it were new again. How long it will continue is unknown but it certainly is pleasant to have it working well.
The second was a reminder that you and I have received a gift called the Bible. I listened during the holiday season to Dr. David Jeremiah speaking in his annual visit to New York City. He quoted some amazing facts regarding the Bible — its distribution numbers far exceeding any other book and its existence enduring despite efforts by enemies to destroy it.
Another amazing fact is that, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, every time we reread a familiar portion of Scripture, we learn something new again. I have often read from Isaiah 41. One of the first sermons that I preached many decades ago was based on today's verse. I stressed the four points: (1) new (2) sharp (3) threshing instrument, and (4) having teeth. Yet as I recently reread the portion, I realized the significant importance of "I will make thee". To me, this familiar portion was new again.
A most important difference between these two gifts is their warranty or guarantee. My electric toothbrush is still performing each time as if it were new again. But the company has warned that it has a limited time for such performance. We chuckle when we see the funny advertisement for the Energizer Bunny™ continuing to perform longer than other batteries. I'm sure that, as you read this, you can think of products or situations that will not perform as promised or hoped.
Contrast this fact with the guarantee stated in Isaiah 55.
Isaiah 55:11 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (KJV)
Now that's a guarantee that you and I can really count on. Every time we read our guidebook (the Bible) under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it becomes new again. Like me, you may falter by not reading the guidebook as regularly as you should. My new electric toothbrush will perform as it is currently only if I continue to use it faithfully twice a day for five minutes each time. That same principle certainly is true for our guidebook!
Prayer: Dear Father, we are so blessed by the gifts that You give us. Thank You especially for the Bible and the Holy Spirit guiding us while we strive to understand it, as You make it new again every time we read it. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Vincent Walter <vwalter@bell.net>
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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I knew it was Vincent. He is so quietly wonderful.
Thank you, Vincent. Praise God for His guarantee!
Have enjoyed and learned from your writings, Happy New Year.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Vince. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Thank you, Vincent, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us.
Blessings.
Thank you for this writing, Vince. Yes, the Bible is a special book to be loved and appreciated. Blessings.
As the end of year approaches, we renew our commitment to God our Father, Jesus our Saviour, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Good morning,
Welcome back.
I have missed your down-to-earth devotionals.
So good to read your devotional this morning. It’s been a while and I was concerned you might not be well. Blessings always.
Thank you once more Vincent for your devotional. You always manage to find a meaningful illustration and thus give those reading food for thought.
Thank you, Vincent, for today’s daily devotional and inspiring message.
Stay safe in the Lord as he continues to guide your path and keep up the good work.
Dear Walter, it was good to read another one of your devotionals, I so enjoy your writings.
Praying you had a Blessed Christmas.
Blessings to you each day.
(Ont.)
Dear Vincent,
For many years, I’ve been touched by your wisdom, and mindful devotions.
It was a special blessing to hear from you today.
May God bless and hold you in His grip.
Happy new year!
Merry Christmas Vincent and may God Bless you in 2024 and continue to bring you His discernment and insight. Thank you for sharing this message today. I have often felt the same reading my Bible. I have read some passages many times but then “light” comes on and I see it in a way that has to me a wonderful insight that is so timely that I can apply to a moment in my life! Thank you again and God Bless!
Greetings of the Season, Vince.
My Bible was one of the first in the NIV, it has been rebound. When that happened, they shaved part of the margin and some of my notes were lost, but I still underline and date each “discovery”.
You are right to point out the “new again”… how personal, how faithful is our Loving Heavenly Father as we spend time with Him. Bless you for strengthening the Body of Christ through your Daily Devotional ministry.
Good morning, Vincent,
Well mystery solved. I have noticed that many of the PresbyCan writers once gave sermons and I see you mention you also did. I admire the devotionals and I think some of it is because the people who write them have had some practice over the years.
I do believe that we do hear different things in passages from the Bible depending on what God wants us to hear at that time. Sometimes we are not ready to absorb the whole message or just don’t get it.
Thank you for once again sharing your thoughts and enjoying your new toothbrush. I can’t imagine brushing my teeth for 5 minutes. Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2024.
Merry Christmas Vince,
So good to read another devotional from you. I enjoyed it and happy to see it was written by you, I was thinking about you since it had been awhile.
God bless.
Dear Vincent,
What a good reminder about reading the Bible, if only 5 min. at a time. I am looking forward to reading it more often with the help of the Holy Spirit this new year.
Thank you. Keep sending devotions.
(Ontario)