Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105 NRSV).

the light of the world

As we discussed earlier, references to the heart is notionally talking about the centre of our being, but practically talking about our minds. Our minds are unique among all living creatures. And controls our language, speech, how we remember, imagine and perceive the world. And for me, these are the very reasons why our mind must be renewed when we are saved from ourselves and to the Lord.  

Our memories play a huge part in our humanity. This is why we have so many rituals and focal points in scripture. Here are just a few; we have the rainbow as a memorial to us that God will never destroy the earth again with a flood. The next time you see a rainbow, think of the devastation of the flood during Noah’s time and thank God that he is true to his word.  We also have the various Jewish feasts such as the feast of Passover. This reminds the Jewish people of their passage from slavery to the Promised Land. And so every time they celebrate the Passover they remember the pain of slavery and celebrate the miraculous deliverance of their God. The act of remembering makes us human. Without the ability to remember, we lose the essence of what it is to be human and may revert to acting like some animals and carry out inhumane acts. 

It is for this reason that we are encouraged to renew our minds and think like Jesus did (Philippians 2). When we do, we are able to forgive those who use us and despitefully abuse us. Be reconciled to those who are estranged from us and praise God for the fact that we can remember that his mercies are from everlasting to everlasting and it is he who punishes those who are wicked and not us.

Read Psalm 119:105-112.