Really Good News

Tom Barnard

 

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.”

(Psalm 143:8 NIV)

 

“Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing his songs,

praying to God who gives me life.”

(Psalm 42:8 NLT)

 

Each morning I read the Sports Section of the Boston Globe. It’s not the first thing I read in the morning, but early in the day I like to read the latest news about Boston sports. I developed the habit when we lived near Boston for nineteen years and I subscribed to the Globe. I am not thrilled about the sports news from Boston this year, but I like to check it out.

 

But when I want to read really good news, I turn to God’s Word. I know it will never lead me astray, and I am confident that when I take time to read His Word in depth, I will not only find good news, but I will find directions on how I should live my life.

 

The writers of the two selections from the Psalms, above, spoke about the importance of being in the Word in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening. In Scripture I discover all I need to know about God’s unfailing love. I also find songs to sing and applications to make to my personal life. From these sources I will find strength and unconditional love.

 

John Wesley was known to be “a man of one book.” In his preface to Standard Sermons he wrote, “God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God!”

 

Heavenly Father, I want to join Wesley in the refrain—“O give me that book!” I want to read it morning and night. I want to sing its songs. I want to live according to its precepts. I want to honor the God of that book. “At any price give me the Book of God.” Amen.