BIBLE READING: SUSPENDERS AND HOPE
I remember as a young child that if a cartoon on television showed a man’s pants falling down viewers witnessed polka dotted boxer shorts. It was embarrasing to the man and laughable to the audience.
Worse than the embarrassment of pants down, it could be downright dangerous for the man to attempt to walk with his pants around his ankles. He was sure to be unable to maneuver without falling, which only added to his funny situation and was certain to bring more laughs.
Perhaps the day could have been saved — as well as the man’s pride — if he had worn suspenders. Suspenders, while a useful invention, are not typically in one’s thoughts. In today’s blogpost they are the object of a spiritual illustration. Who would have thought?
Of course our faith has a foundation to keep us on our feet. If we fall spiritually it is not as funny as cartoon humor. Such falling is preventable, and prevention may be as simple as wearing suspenders!
What could possibly serve as spiritual suspenders? The Bible, God’s Word, keeps our Christian pants up so to speak. Today far too many are caught at times with their “pants down,” because they neglect God’s Word.
I think if we are careful to feast on God’s Word daily, then this serves as “suspenders” to hold up more than our pants. It holds us up to stand firm… to stand for that which is right and against that which is wrong. People who share our planet need to witness those who are able to stand spiritually. It is possible but not in our own strength.
How does the Bible support believers? It may be called God’s Word, the law, precepts, statutes, ordinances, or commandments, but it is not called suggestions or options. One reason to read… to study… to learn the Bible is because it is a command.
When we get serious about the Bible and fill our hearts, heads, and lives with it, then we’ll find that it has divine power to help us to stand. It is for us all to ponder, to meditate on, and to live by. If we have a daily feast on God’s Word, then we will be stronger spiritually. It is spiritual nourishment that can provide that which is needed for growth and strength of our spirits.
Where to begin? Proverbs offers a chapter for each day of our month. Psalms offers easy-to-relate-to chapters throughout this Old Testament book for our varied personal situations in life. Job is especially helpful in times of deep suffering. Read Genesis to understand the account of Creation.
The gospel of John is a good New Testament book to begin for those not used to reading it. On and on it goes; something for us all no matter where we find ourselves.
My point is we need to read it! We need to get to know the Word of God. It’s even more important to get to know the God of the Word. Let’s put on our spiritual “suspenders” daily. Doing so will help us to stand for Him and will increase our hope.
“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17)
“For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4: 12)
“But know this first of all that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1: 20, 21)
“Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.
Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You.” (Psalm 119: 33 – 35, 38)
“I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes.
Remember the Word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your Word has revived me.” (Psalm 119: 47 – 50)
“I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
I have sworn, and I will confirm it that I will keep Your righteous ordinances.
I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your Word.
O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your ordinances.”
(Psalm 119: 102 – 108)
“Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, and do Your commandments.
My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies for all my ways are before You.
Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word.
Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your Word.
Let my lips utter praise for You teach me Your statutes.
Let my tongue sing of Your Word for all Your commandments are righteousness.
Let Your hand be ready to help me for I have chosen Your precepts.
I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight.
Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant for I do not forget Your commandments.” (Psalm 119: 165 – 176)
EAGLES’ WINGS: HOPE TO SOAR
It gives comfort and hope to trust promises from Creator God. One such comforting and hopeful promise was proclaimed by the Prophet Isaiah of Old Testament times. I especially like Isaiah 40: 31, the verse that provides a visual for my mind’s eye.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired,
they will walk and not become weary.”
(Isaiah 40: 28 – 31)
Our Great God helps the helpless, gives hope to the hopeless, and strengthens the weak. His promises give comfort as well as hope. They are true for all believers whether young, adult, or even mature Christians. His promises give hope even when we are weary. Notice I said when not if.
Eagles are majestic creatures especially in flight. I remember the first time I saw an eagle in nature. I watched in awe as it flew directly overhead. The experience was memorable, and the word that came to my mind at the time was “majestic.”
Since then my family has visited viewing sites where eagles nest during the winter. We’ve observed them in their nests on rocky cliffs, sweeping down to catch fish from a lake, and soaring majestically on air currents.
Have you considered that eagles are designed with characteristics that allow them to do what they do? They are known for their exceptional vision and keen ability to focus long distances. In fact an eagle may have the sharpest vision of any bird. Also eagles alone have the distinction of flying at the highest altitudes.
Eagles are designed with very long and large wings. Their wings are long and wide to bear their own body weight and additionally the weight of fish they catch and carry with their sharp and powerful talons.
According to scientists who studied eagles, Jon Gerrard and Gary Bortolotti, “Eagles are capable of sustained flapping flight, but they usually spend little time doing it.”
One eagle observed intensively in flight averaged less than 2 minutes per hour flapping. It’s understandable considering the large expenditure of energy required by the pectoral and supracoracoid muscles to power their huge wings. The energy needed to maintain a bird in soaring or gliding flight is much less (perhaps a 20th or even less) than the power needed for flapping. Eagles always choose to soar or glide when possible.
“That is why when eagles are flying long distances, especially on migration, they often soar on thermals until they reach a great altitude, and then use the gliding/soaring method of flying to cover the longest distance using the smallest amount of energy.”
(Journey North, University of Wisconsin – Madison)
Just like the air currents provided for eagles that allow them to soar high and majestically, our God provides that which is needed for us to soar above the mundane and negative constraints of life. We may soar into abundant living when we appropriate the gifts and provisions that God wants to give us. How much we miss when we depend on our own power and fly (or fall) in our own strength (or weakness)!
I believe God designed us to soar high like eagles. He is like the thermals on which we soar highest as we rest in Him and depend on Him. He is the power to gain new strength and not become weary. Let’s trust Him, rely on His promises, find hope, then get ready to soar like eagles!
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired,
they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40: 31)