The Counsel of God's Word
By: J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
09/13/2019
Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
In this era where feelings and emotions reign supreme, we often find ourselves justifying our actions based upon the subjective criteria of experience. Feelings are the standard used to verify everything from theological views to political positions. I recall a discussion in which one of my students was unable to support his theological conclusion from the empirical standard of Scripture so finally, in exasperation, he said, “That's just the way I feel about it!” What this student failed to realize is that our theology is not based upon feelings. If it were, theology would be as unpredictable and inconsistent as our everchanging emotions. Feelings are a dangerous ground on which to build a belief system. Feelings change. Truth does not. Contrary to the prevailing thought of our day truth exists, and it is embodied in the Word of God.
God has given us the testimony of His Word to validate or invalidate all truth claims. God’s Word is living and energetic and when we read it, it pierces our soul and cuts right through all of the human emotion to the heart of the matter. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word is so sharp that it can distinguish spiritual truth from our human feelings even when they are so closely intertwined as to resemble joints and marrow, which are often indistinguishable in the human musculoskeletal system. That is why it is crucial to stay in the Word. Many of the beliefs that we hold may in fact be accurate, but if our conclusions are based upon intellectual reasoning rather than the propositional truth of Scripture, our views are prone to change. When someone comes along with a more attractive argument or a stronger appeal to our emotions, we will change our views.
The ancient sage Agur understood this principle well. He wrote, “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (Prov. 30:5) Notice, it is the Word of God that is flawless. Man’s reason, by contrast, is imperfect. Like everything else in creation, our mind, will and emotions were corrupted by the fall. When sin entered the world, it not only affected our spiritual lives, creating a need for spiritual redemption, it also affected our physical lives, creating a need for physical redemption as well. One day in heaven, our intellectual capacity to reason will be perfect. At that time, all of the redeemed will possess a kind of perfect wisdom that is unknown this side of glory. But until then, we must rely on God’s Word to confirm or reprove our beliefs, attitudes and actions. When we put our trust in God’s Word, it shields us from harm. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps. 119:105)
Let me encourage you to become less dependent on feelings and more reliant on the Word of God. After all, where have feelings gotten us? Relationships are struggling, morality is declining, and evil is rampant. “The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” (Isa. 40:6-8) To become reliant on the Word of God we must become familiar with it. We must study it and store it up in our hearts so that it is readily available when we need it. When feelings and reason compete for our attention, the Spirit of God within us does battle with those feelings. But He needs the ammunition of God’s Word. The Psalmist said, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Ps. 119:11) Do not leave the Spirit of God without a witness within you. Read the Word! Hide it in your heart. It is the best counselor known to man.
09/13/2019
Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
In this era where feelings and emotions reign supreme, we often find ourselves justifying our actions based upon the subjective criteria of experience. Feelings are the standard used to verify everything from theological views to political positions. I recall a discussion in which one of my students was unable to support his theological conclusion from the empirical standard of Scripture so finally, in exasperation, he said, “That's just the way I feel about it!” What this student failed to realize is that our theology is not based upon feelings. If it were, theology would be as unpredictable and inconsistent as our everchanging emotions. Feelings are a dangerous ground on which to build a belief system. Feelings change. Truth does not. Contrary to the prevailing thought of our day truth exists, and it is embodied in the Word of God.
God has given us the testimony of His Word to validate or invalidate all truth claims. God’s Word is living and energetic and when we read it, it pierces our soul and cuts right through all of the human emotion to the heart of the matter. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word is so sharp that it can distinguish spiritual truth from our human feelings even when they are so closely intertwined as to resemble joints and marrow, which are often indistinguishable in the human musculoskeletal system. That is why it is crucial to stay in the Word. Many of the beliefs that we hold may in fact be accurate, but if our conclusions are based upon intellectual reasoning rather than the propositional truth of Scripture, our views are prone to change. When someone comes along with a more attractive argument or a stronger appeal to our emotions, we will change our views.
The ancient sage Agur understood this principle well. He wrote, “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (Prov. 30:5) Notice, it is the Word of God that is flawless. Man’s reason, by contrast, is imperfect. Like everything else in creation, our mind, will and emotions were corrupted by the fall. When sin entered the world, it not only affected our spiritual lives, creating a need for spiritual redemption, it also affected our physical lives, creating a need for physical redemption as well. One day in heaven, our intellectual capacity to reason will be perfect. At that time, all of the redeemed will possess a kind of perfect wisdom that is unknown this side of glory. But until then, we must rely on God’s Word to confirm or reprove our beliefs, attitudes and actions. When we put our trust in God’s Word, it shields us from harm. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps. 119:105)
Let me encourage you to become less dependent on feelings and more reliant on the Word of God. After all, where have feelings gotten us? Relationships are struggling, morality is declining, and evil is rampant. “The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” (Isa. 40:6-8) To become reliant on the Word of God we must become familiar with it. We must study it and store it up in our hearts so that it is readily available when we need it. When feelings and reason compete for our attention, the Spirit of God within us does battle with those feelings. But He needs the ammunition of God’s Word. The Psalmist said, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Ps. 119:11) Do not leave the Spirit of God without a witness within you. Read the Word! Hide it in your heart. It is the best counselor known to man.
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