A thousand ideas, many quite good will come into your mind today. How will you sort them? By what will you evaluate them, some on reserve, some discarded, perhaps one or two moved to the top of your list?
I am convinced that most of us do not need more things on our 'to-do' list. We need to pare down our commitments to things shaped by our anchor points! And that obviously means we must form those anchors from a solid base of truth.
I am deeply grateful to my Dad and Mom who taught me the principles of the Bible, who made regular attendance at church, along with the reading of the Word, first-line priorities for me. My head is packed full of Scripture - stories of the Old Testament heroes and Jesus, and teaching about the Christian life from the letters of Paul. My adult life has been marked by a journey of understanding, processing those ‘ideas’ that I learned over the years into Truth that is the basis of my anchor points!
What anchors me?
-I am a child of God through the grace of Christ.
-My life aimed at eternal reward.
-Love is the highest value- loving God, loving family, loving others.
Ah, yes, friend, I know that life is very complex and demands growth. I did not decide what was true 4 decades ago and close my mind. I remain a student and a disciple, growing in grace and understanding.
One thing I can say with complete conviction – “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) I am comforted, corrected, and guided by the wisdom of the Word, which the Spirit brings to my consciousness again and again. Those words are anchor points that keep me from going adrift.
The lack of love for the Scripture is one of the trends in the Church that is of real concern for this pastor. Many Christians only know what others say about the Bible, seldom reading it for themselves. It is common for Christians to have little idea of what the Bible says about life, about God, about our hope. Many ideas compete in their minds and the lack of anchor points leaves them subject to fear, doubt, and instability.
Paul, near the end of his life, wrote to Timothy, a younger man pastoring a church, and struggling with opposition. The old man reminds him of the importance of anchor points! "Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:13-14, NLT)
"But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-17, NLT)
Are you receptive to the Scripture or do you argue with God's wisdom because 'it just doesn't make sense,’ your mind without anchoring convictions? God is never offended by our honest questions, but we certainly sin when we allow our questions to become a root of bitterness or an excuse for rebellion. Be like Jeremiah who exclaimed: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)
Want to develop anchor points that will hold you steady?
Give yourself to diligent study.
Find a pastor who loves the Word and who will faithfully open for the congregation.
Process your faith with prayer, thought, conversation, and by putting it to work!
Here is a word from the Word. I pray it is your desire. "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." (Psalm 119:10-16, NKJV)
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Anchor
I have this hopeAs an anchor for my soulThrough ev'ry stormI will hold to You\With endless loveAll my fear is swept awayIn ev'rythingI will trust in You
There is hope in the promise of the crossYou gave ev'rything to save the world You loveAnd this hope is an anchor for my soulOur God will stand unshakable
Unchanging OneWho was and is to comeYour promise sureYou will not let goYour Name is higherYour Name is greaterAll my hope is in You\Your word unfailingYour promise unshakenAll my hope is in You
Ben Fielding | Dean Ussher
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