Faith by Hearing the Word of God

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
-Romans 10:17

Oh how I cherished the day when I found the salvation of God. It is something that I will never exchange even if my life will be put at stake. For what is life in the world but just a vapor (James 4:14), but the salvation freely given is a treasure for eternity. A gift of God I found by his grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and through it shall I live my life.

The faithless said to his heart, am I really saved? Don't be blinded by your own beliefs, oh man, for God has never forsaken any of his promises. When he said yea, it is yea! If nay, then it is nay (Matthew 5:37)!

The unbelieving said to his heart, where is the promise of the Lord's coming? Don't trust your own understanding, oh man, for God is not slack concerning his promise (2 Peter 3:4). But before it, all that is written about his coming be fulfilled first.

Why have you gone to the wide and broad path of destruction, oh man?! You have forsaken the word of God and defiled yourself with the world. Therefore, your desires quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) within you who comforts and teaches you.

Why have you covered yourself with iniquities oh man? You have despised the commandments and precepts of the Almighty with your abominations. Thus, your faith is slowly fading away while you're walking through the paths of torment.

For centuries, your Word is forsaken, oh Father, by those who claimed to be faithful yet denied the Scripture. They have put it under "Index of Forbidden books" and those who possessed them were mercilessly burned at stake during the Inquisition. Nevertheless, oh God, you preserved your words as promised: "heaven and earth shall passed away but my words shall not passed away (Mark 13:31)." Thus, the true worshiper who worshiped you in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24) and not by idolatry, separate themselves to those who bowed down to the graven images (Micah 5:13). We have been long blinded by those wolves in the sheep's clothing. Who put a stumbling block to your people by relying on traditions of the heathen and commandments (dogmas) of men (Mark 7:6-9,13). Therefore, the faithful have diligently translated the Scripture to their common languages that your words will once again be known throughout the world. Since then, the genuine believers has been sanctified by the truth, oh Father, for your word is truth (John 17:17).

When will you value the Bible, oh you backsliders?! Read and listen to his words, for a man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4). How can you believe then if you have not heard the good news of salvation?

When will you listen to his voice, oh you doubters?! Keep your faith to God continually burning, for without faith it is impossible to please him (Hebrews 11:6). How can you say then that the Lord is my all in all if your faith wavered?

Oh Father, your words became the sole authority of our faith. Truly, they are your own voice that echoes to our hearts and minds. They are like two-edged swords that rebuke and condemn us whenever we fall short to your commandments. It pierced through our souls and torn it asunder . A whip that scourges whenever the Holy Spirit convicts us for our short comings. Thus, our faith grow stronger and stronger everyday as we lived our life walking in the precepts of your Word.

Knowing the Scriptures

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
-Mark 12:24

Whenever I think highly of myself, your Words brought me down, oh Lord! Who am I then to go against the truth? If the truth is against me, then let God be found true and a man like me a liar (Romans 3:4).

In innocence, oh man, there is sobriety and calmness in your simple mind. In your awakening, you glut, you have developed an insatiable craving for knowledge. Restless and anxious, you eventually found yourself lacking and confused. Until you finally realized that a wise man is nothing but a fool if he himself was confounded of his own understanding. Ever learning, yet never came to the knowledge of truth (2 Timothy 3:7).

Woe unto you, oh man, dwelling in a world full of deceptions and mysteries. When you set your vision afar, there are stones need to be unturned. Whenever your thoughts soar high, there are realms that a mind cannot fathomed. For indeed a man was made higher than all of God's creation, yet his intellect failed him in many ways. Can you then solely trust on your own understanding? God surely forbids.

Have you numbered the stars, oh you haughty man, as though you are infallible? Have you searched the universe, oh you proud one, as though you are omniscient? Therefore, God condemns the high-minded thoughts of men. You definitely do err for not knowing the light of his Words and might of his power.

To walk in the truth is living in the context of your Words, oh God! For you alone upholds the truth. Sanctify us with the truth, for your Word, oh Father, is truth (John 17:17). Let the Bible therefore be our guide and the Holy Spirit be our Mentor. Deliver us, we beseech you! Deliver us away from the wiles of this world and the sly crafts of the devil. So your children may walk justly through the narrow gate where our Savior, Jesus Christ awaits.

Spiritual Famine

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
-Amos 8:11

When you have said, your words shall not pass away (Mark 13:31), you have been faithful until this day, oh Lord! History itself have witnessed how genuine your promises are. Although, the religious unlawfully discarded the authority of your words, yet it did not passed away. Even if they have put the Bible in the "list of forbidden books", nevertheless, it still stand today.

The widespread persecutions, inhumane medieval tortures and the brutish Inquisition greatly wearied the saints. The Old and New Testaments became the witnesses of the truth (for they are God-breathed) and was burned at stake together with your faithful martyrs in those dark days. But you Lord, uphold your promise continually and did not let the living testament of your love to mankind to perish in the pages of history.

Oh Lord! Let it be a memorial to all Christians the tears and blood shed by those who fought for the Scripture. How they stand and suffered from the tribulations in the midst of their executioners. How they stand firm on the truth against those who vilified and condemned them to heresy. For the so-called Christians in the synagogue of Satan thought that, "it is better for the body to be burn than to suffer a soul to read the Bible." The same people who were lurking as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). They gravely believed that they are doing a honorable and holy calling to God by killing the martyrs of Christ. Thus, they fulfilled what was written: "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service (John 16:2)."

However, it is disheartening to know that the Scripture (which is now widely distributed) is rarely read and most of the time neglected. When will you learn, oh you backsliding Christians!? When the famine strikes back? How long will you adamantly ignore the Word of God? When another Inquisition shall rise? Make your stand, oh you lukewarm!

Oh Father! You have filled my famished soul with truth and gladness. Your words are music to my ears. They are like milk and honey in my mouth. Teach me, oh God, to cling constantly in your will. That I may not look to my left nor right, but only to the sole and final authority of my faith--- the Holy Bible.