But the Word of the Lord continued…

Death of Herod
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

I love the Word of God so much, it is constant, unchanging, completely true and reliable.  In my darkest moments, God has brought portions of His Word to my mind to comfort and direct me.  In the moments of extreme joy, my heart is lifted with thankfulness to the God who never changes, the God who is always true and who provides such wonderful things don here on the earth for us to enjoy.  I was struck by the contrast of what happens to man when he allows himself to be lifted up higher than he should.  Herod allowed people to call him  a “god.”  He felt it was his right to do so.  But God struck Him because he did not give God the glory.

There is only one God and there is only one true Word of God.  His Word has been tested and tried throughout my entire life, and He has always been true and right.  God has allowed me to suffer many losses and setbacks.  He has allowed certain “thorns in the flesh” to remain in place in my life.  He knows best why He has done these things, and I trust Him.  I have asked God “Why?” an awful lot in my life, sometimes He has answered and sometimes He has not.  But He always gives me direction and comfort through His Word, the Bible.

Isaiah 55:11
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent.

2 Peter 3

⁸ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

I do not know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.  God holds me gently in His hands, I know not what awaits me as His child, but I am knowing Him more and more each day.  So I need not be afraid no matter what is happening in the world at large, or in my little world.

He is forever faithful and so is His Word…and so I rest