Posted on January 2, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
Happy New Year! Can you believe we are at the beginning of a new year – 2023! Wow!
As we begin this new year at America’s Keswick, I am excited because this is our 100th season of conference ministry. Our new theme for 2023 is Anchored – Faithful Through the Ages.
The older I am getting, the more intentional I am getting in making sure that we keep the main thing the main thing.
What I am about to write may cause some tension, but it is a concern that I have about where we are in our culture. I am very concerned that we see a huge drift away from the Word of God to the word of man. In making this statement, I want to say right up front, that growing up I saw people who almost loved the Word of God more than the God of the Bible. I grew up in those days when we would die on the hill that the KJV was the ONLY right translation.
I am a voracious reader. I have been all my life. I read broadly on all kinds of subjects. I believe that leaders should be readers and that books can help us grow in all areas of our lives. When it comes to my personal time with the Lord, I found myself getting more wrapped up in my devotional reading than in reading God’s Word. The books I was reading were explaining God’s Word to me – but I was missing the blessing of going right to the Word of God and allowing His Word to speak to me. While books are important and necessary, they cannot, and should not take the place of the Word of God in our lives. I am finding more and more leaders pushing this book or that book for their people to read and less and less hearing us encouraging people to read the Word of God. The danger in this is that we put a greater emphasis on the teaching of man and HIS interpretation of the Scriptures allowing the Holy Spirit to instruct and teach us. I need to remind myself that God never promised a book or a system of belief would accomplish His purpose.
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
I need to continually remind myself what Paul taught about the power of the Word of God:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Please hear me – I am not saying there is no value in reading books. But let’s be careful that we are not placing the power of a book over the power of God’s Word in our lives.
If you have questions as to the value of God’s Word in your life, I want to challenge you to read the longest chapter in the Bible – Psalm 119. David deep dives into the value of God’s Word in his life. It’s a powerful read. (If you need help with Psalm 119, Robert Kenney, our Director of Partner Care will help you out! 😊)
This year I want to be more intentional in asking people I meet this question: “So what has God been teaching you from His Word today? This week? This month?” If I see you – I am going to be asking YOU!
One way to be ANCHORED is to be anchored to the Word of God!
Anchored to the Rock,
Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick
Email Bill your comments at bwelte@americaskeswick.org
Written by Bill Welte: President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
Think About This: “We are the Bibles the world is reading; we are the creeds the world is needing; we are the sermons the world is heeding.” – Billy Graham
The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 4-7 You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
