Isaiah 43: 2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

I’ll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, i pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as if on a conveyor belt. There was i, cocooned inside, when a thunderous rush of water hit my car from all directions. What if i get stuck in here or water crashes in? I thought irrationally. Suddenly the waters ceased. After a blowdry, my car was propelled into the outside world again, clean and polished.

In the midst of all this, I remember stormy times in my life when it seemed i was on a conveyor belt, a victim of forces beyond my control. “Car wash experiences,” I now call them. I remember that whenever i passed through deep waters my Redeemer had been with me, sheltering me against the rising tide (Ish. 43: 2). When i came out on the other side, which i always did, i was able to say with joy and confidence, “HE IS A  FAITHFUL GOD!”

Are you in the middle of a car-wash experience? Trust God to bring you through to the other side. You’ll then be a shining testimony of His keeping power.   (by Joanie Yoder)

MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE JOY OF JESUS CHRIST.

“There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1: 7

San Francisco and New York City are using bluegill fish to check for the presence of toxins in their water supply, which could be a possible target for a terrorist attack. A small number of bluegills are kept in a tank at the bottom of some water treatment plants because the fish are sensitive to chemical inbalances in their environment. When a disturbance is present in the water, the bluegills react to it.

Like these bluegills, Paul wanted the Galatians to beware of and react against many toxic disturbance in the “true Gospel” that was being preached. The toxin was being defined as the false principle that God grants acceptance to people and considers them righteous on the basis of their obedience to a set of rules (especially circumcision and dietary laws). In short, obedience to the law was needed, apart form faith in Jesus. This false teaching was a toxic disturbance of the truth and the Galatians were told to react strongly against it. Paul said that anyone preaching a gospel that is not based on grace through faith in Christ alone should be accursed (Gal. 1: 8-9).

Let’s faithfully study the Scriptures so we can detect the toxins of false teaching and proclaim the truth of God’s wonderful salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

“IF YOU KNOW THE TRUTH, YOU CAN DISCERN WHAT’S FALSE.”