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SPIRITUAL GEOGRAPHY: Mountains and Valleys in Scripture CELEBRATING SEPTEMBER 2018 30 Yeaɾs In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 SPIRITUAL GEOGRAPHY: Mountains and Valleys in Scripture A devotional from TODAY WITH GREG THORNTON Interim President of Moody Bible Institute On the Journey Colorado has 58 mountaintop experience but on the mountain peaks journey itself: that measure more than 14,000 feet I lift up my eyes to the mountains— high, often known where does my help come from? My as “14ers.” During help comes from the L, the Maker a family reunion of heaven and earth. He will not let in 2005, the more adventurous in your foot slip—he who watches over our group climbed one of the easier you will not slumber; indeed, he who 14ers, Quandary Peak. If you’ve ever watches over Israel will neither sleep attempted such a feat, you know nor slumber. that climbing to that elevation takes considerable effort. As you ascend, the The L watches over you—the L air becomes thinner, and your body is your shade at your right hand; the reacts to the changing altitude. But the sun will not harm you by day, nor the views from the top were astounding (as moon by night. The L will keep you were the increasingly forceful winds!). from harm—he will watch over your life; Valleys have their own type of beauty. the L will watch over your coming The most memorable one that I have and going both now and forevermore. seen is Dead Sea Valley in Israel. Are you on the mountaintop today, Mountains and valleys appear celebrating what God has done in your frequently in Scripture, perhaps life? Or are you in the valley, struggling because they so accurately depict the to see and understand? God is present. dynamics of our faith journey. Most of He is protecting you, ensuring that us have had mountaintop experiences your foot holds firmly on a crevice. He where God seems especially near, and shields you from the heat of the blazing we are overwhelmed by His goodness sun and the icy sting of winter. He is and glory. But there are also those forever vigilant from the moment you valleys, when we feel vulnerable, were born until your last dying breath. shaken, even utterly alone. He is your constant through it all. Psalm 121 is labeled a Song of Ascent, We can rejoice that God is with us—not also referred to as the Pilgrim Song. just at our destination but on every step I love how it focuses not on the along the way. n 800 3566639 THEOLOGY MATTERS by Dr. John Koessler The One Who Fills Heaven and Earth od created the physical uni- himself gives all men life and breath and verse, and He also inhabits it. everything else” (Acts 17:25). G In Jeremiah 23:24, the Lord characterizes Himself as one who Omnipresence is also unlike the god fills heaven and earth. This spatial portrayed in Deism, a divine presence language shows that no place in who sets creation in motion and then all creation exists from which God steps away from it. Although God is is excluded. He is always present separate from creation, He is engaged everywhere. The theological term for with and acts within it. this divine attribute is omnipresence. God’s presence is a reality in the According to theologian Herman physical world, but it should not be Bavinck, omnipresence is God’s infinity understood in a physical sense. He is applied to space. The psalmist wrote not diffused in the atmosphere like a of God’s omnipresence: “If I go up to gas. God is not contained by what He the heavens, you are there; if I make has created. God does not fill creation my bed in the depths, you are there. If I the way water fills a glass or air fills rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle the atmosphere. The fact that God on the far side of the sea, even there is equally present in every location your hand will guide me, your right does not mean that He manifests His hand will hold me fast” (Ps. 139:8–10). presence the same way everywhere. He has made His presence known in a The doctrine of divine omnipresence variety of ways and to varying degrees. is not the same as pantheism. Omnipresence teaches that God fills Divine omnipresence means no place all of creation. Pantheism asserts that or circumstance is beyond the scope of all creation is God or divine. Scripture God’s presence. Wherever we may go, teaches that God is distinct from His God is already there before us. n creation. He made it and is separate from it. Creation is dependent upon God and is supported by His power (Col. FOR FURTHER STUDY 1:16–17). God, on the other hand, does To learn more, read God and the not depend upon creation for anything. Cosmos: Divine Activity in Space, He “is not served by human hands, Time and History by Harry Lee Poe as if he needed anything, because he and Jimmy H. Davis (InterVarsity). TODAYINTHEWORD.COM FROM THE EDITORS by Jamie Janosz We love hearing from you! What an encouragement it is to read life every single day since sometime in your letters and emails to Today in the 1989. There are so many stories I could Word. We pray that this devotional will write a book, and maybe someday I will, encourage you to read and reflect on but for now, be blessed all of you who Scripture and that God will use the time have a hand and a heart in producing in His Word to guide your life. Thank you Today in the Word. I love you guys and also for giving generously to support this am privileged to be part of your family. ministry. Because of your help, we can We’re gonna have a great time in glory! encourage thousands of readers to —Rick in Medina, Ohio stay rooted in God’s Word. I try to read a devotion every day. This Here are a few letters from our mailbox: helps me to read the Bible every day. I love Today in the Word. I try my best As it says, all Scripture is profitable. to read it every day, and when I miss I —Joseph in Highland Park, Ill. double up to be sure I get the full impact and benefit. This is a very effective Bible Today in the Word is a great devotional. study and personal, godly, enriching I’ve learned so much about people and tool. Thank you so much to everyone history throughout the Bible. The Bible responsible for this content and insight. passages are so meaningful. I have It is so helpful! God bless you all! decided to get it daily online. Saves —Brian in Manchester, Conn. postage!—Sarah in Santa Ana, Calif. Today in the Word is the first thing I do Thank you for Today in the Word. in the morning when I begin my Bible It is always good, always filling. study. It always sets me off on the right “Forgiveness—A Gift to Give & to Receive” foot for the rest of my day. was an excellent devotion/study. Yes, we —Linda in Chatsworth, Ga. desperately need forgiveness. We have so much to be thankful for—so blessed! I am not sure of the date I started May God use us to be that sweet reading Today in the Word with my fragrance of Jesus’ forgiveness to others. Bible in the morning, but it should be —Lindy in Lakeland, Fla. no surprise to all of you and hopefully a great encouragement that God has Has God used Today in the Word used it to teach, to train, to correct, and in your life? If so, drop us a note to sometimes rebuke me in my Christian and tell us! n 800 356­6639 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 9 MANAGING EDITOR Heather Mott SENIOR EDITOR Elena Mafter Spiritual Geography: Mountains CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jamie Janosz and Valleys in Scripture John Koessler WRITER Brad Baurain “Life’s a bit like mountaineering—never look down.” ART DIRECTOR These words belong to Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand Lynn Gabalec mountaineer, Antarctic explorer, and philanthropist—an GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Larry Bohlin, Rachel Hutcheson authority on mountain climbing. Hillary and the Tibetan MARKETING & PRODUCTION mountaineer Tenzing Norgay were the first climbers Paul B. Currie confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE In our study with Today in the Word this month, we’ll see INTERIM PRESIDENT that Hillary’s words apply to our spiritual walk as well. Greg Thornton INTERIM PROVOST John Jelinek As we study physical and spiritual geography in the Bible INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING this month, we’ll explore three main themes: we’ll climb OFFICER Mark Wagner the mountains and traverse valleys where people had CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER life-changing encounters with God; we’ll examine how the Ken Heulitt geography of the land of Israel is reflected in the journey CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Samuel Choy of faith of the people of Israel; and finally, we’ll look into the various landscape images in scriptural prophecy. VICE PRESIDENTS Tim Arens We’ll praise God for being the Lord of our mountaintop Larry Davidhizar experiences, as well as our Good Shepherd in the dark Jim Elliott Bruce Everhart valleys of despair. Doug Hastings Frank W. Leber Jr.
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