Proverbs 16:31 says, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."

When you’ve been travelling down this road for quite some time, you often reflect on what some Christians call "God speaking directly to you." In the old days, if you were praying and seeking direction, you’d pick up the Bible, flip it open randomly, and there’d be a scripture right before you. Before you knew it, you were practicing a bit of bibliomancy!

I always remember a sister who had one of those "Promise Boxes." To me, it was a bit like a spiritual fortune cookie—I constantly had to resist the temptation to slip a few non-complimentary biblical quotes into her Lucky Dip box.

Anyway, last year, my daughter gave me a book as a present titled Stand Strong: 365 Devotions for Men by Men by Our Daily Bread. It certainly sounded nice and butch! But I never really got around to reading it; I usually don't bother with devotions because people tend to treat them like a daily horoscope, so it just sat on the shelf.

Then came a time when I needed to make a major decision. I’ve always had a problem hearing from the Lord for myself—usually, if He has a word for me, He has to hit me over the head with it for it to sink in.

Out of sheer desperation, I picked up the book, flicked it open, and lo and behold—the exact answer I needed jumped right off the page at me. And as it turned out, it was spot on!

A few weeks later, I needed another question answered. Yes, you guessed it... I picked the book up and flicked it open again.

God clearly has a sense of humor!

The devotion itself is called "T-Ball Faith"—a nice, uplifting piece about 5-year-olds playing baseball and the joy of new believers coming to Jesus (referencing Luke 15).

But take a close look at the scripture quote the editors printed right beneath the title:

"Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit." —Jeremiah 8:10

You open a devotional looking for a gentle word of divine guidance, and you get slapped in the face with Old Testament judgment about losing your house and your wife over a game of T-ball! Talk about an aggressive plot twist.

I don't really have to say anything else on this subject it is actually fact not fiction. Proof positive that the Lord certainly has a sense of humor. I'll finish on a few Americanisms: as the book obviously has an American influence, I was expecting a home run but was thrown a curve ball! 😂

mark@doctrinematters.co.uk

Doctrine Matters

Jeremiah 6:16

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

King James Version