Likewise, the word classic has gotten bad press in our day. If a book is a "classic" we immediately think it must be obscure, hard to read, and most certainly out of touch with modern concerns. As Mark Twain aptly notes, it is the kind of book that "everyone wants to have read but no one wants to read." In reality, however, for a writing to be a classic means simply that many people over a sustained period of time have drawn strength from its insights and witness to its value.
When these two words are brought together - devotional classic - they describe a kind of writing that has stood the test of time and that seeks to form the soul before God. (Foster and Smith, Devotional Classics, p.1)At the end of the week, I long to find something that I can "draw strength from." I am reminded of what Jesus said to the devil in the midst of temptation: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." These writers we are going to read and ponder will teach us how to find strength in God's word in the many ways it comes to us. Pray that we may learn to live on the words that come to us from the mouth of God!
The listening ear and the satisfied heart
grow in the same soil.
That soil is the kingdom of God.
The place where the ear and heart are married.
(More of this poem on my other blog, if you want to read it: http://messagescraps.blogspot.com/2013/05/ripening-to-gods-word.html)
No comments:
Post a Comment