stability

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.” ~ Proverbs 2:6-9

Have you ever thought of the effect truth has on people?  We often talk about how the truth will “set them free”.  But we forget to talk about what the truth does to those it has already set free.  It was said of John Calvin’s “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” that Calvin’s words “…gave stability to wavering minds, and confidence to sinking hearts, and placed upon the lips of all a brilliant apology [doctrine]…” (The Life of John Calvin by Grier) Calvin’s “Institutes” did not provide stability because they were beautiful prose, no, they provided stability to those who were being persecuted during the reformation because they were based upon the truth of the Bible; the truth that comes from the provider of all wisdom (see Proverbs 2-9).  Truth doesn’t just set us free, it builds us up and encourages us through times of trial.  Why?  Because truth comes directly from God.  So when we are reading and contemplating that truth we draw nearer to God.  And He, as Proverbs 2 states, is a shield to those who are His.  (NOTE: If you are not already a child of God, might I encourage you to see out the truth of His gospel – that Jesus, His Son, came to earth as a man to die on a cross as a payment for your sin and rose again to restore your relationship with God.  When you know that truth you will be set free and then will experience the reality of Proverbs 2.)  As we all experience the trials of living in this fallen world, seek out the originator of stability.  Read His truths – read the truths of His servants (like John Calvin!) – be encouraged – be stabilized.