Where do you run to for strength in times of difficulty? Some merely wallow in depression. Others resort to efforts in the flesh. Many simply turn to other people. The tragedy of turning to any of these things or people is that their help or comfort is only marginal at best, and ignores what God has supplied to provide our needed stability.

David found the right answer. He wrote, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy Word hath quickened me” (Psa. 119:50). In the midst of weakness, even when he felt extremely despondent, time spent in God’s Word brought him spiritual life, comfort, and the strength that he needed. The extent of the help he received is indicated by his testimony in verse 71: “It was good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statues.” Quite simply, he allowed God to meet his need so adequately that his tragedy became a triumph by turning to the Scriptures.

Not only are we to personally find God’s Word to be the answer for all our needs, we are also to present the Scriptures to others as the answer to their needs as well. That’s what the Apostle Paul meant when he instructed the Philippians to be always “holding forth [meaning to present or offer] the Word of life” (Phil. 2:16). Their ministry to the lost was to be enhanced by the most “blameless” (2:15) conduct possible, as they shared the gospel with others, and applied God’s Word to daily living. But their ministry was to be empowered by promoting the Scriptures (not arguments, logic, or platitudes) to the hearts of those with whom they sought to have a ministry. This was the pattern the Apostle Paul left them. He held forth the Word of Life to them; they believed it and were saved. Later his letter further equipped them for their present needs in the midst of suffering. It was this practice of presenting God’s Word to others, regardless of the individual need, that made Paul’s ministry so effective. God’s Word has real power because it is a divine message from the Lord God Almighty Himself.

God’s Word is the answer for the need of every human soul. Whether the need is eternal life, answers to current problems, counsel about what to do, comfort in trial, or insight into future events, God’s Word is intended by the Lord to be our source of strength and power. Run to it, and encourage others to do so, rather than turning to any other source.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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