Putting the pieces together

Putting the pieces together. Putting the pieces together.

Key points

• 9 Ole Miss and Kewan Lacy head to Vanderbilt with Jared Curtis trying to return.
• Will you come to God's word each day expecting to encounter Jesus as His Spirit works through His word?
• Remain humbly connected to Jesus, our Vine, and His Spirit will grow in you the particularly fruit for which He is looking.
• The Waffle House Index helps Southerners – and FEMA – gauge a storm's severity.
• Huntington Bank investing over $40 million to modernize Tupelo operations center, regional headquarters.

Putting the pieces together. Putting the pieces together. By: Alistair Begg – October 9, 2026.

You search the Scriptures since you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness concerning me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. – John 5: 39-40.

One Christmas, our family decided that we were going to become a jigsaw family. We set up a table, sourced the most enormous jigsaw puzzle that we could find, and laid out all its pieces. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm shortly proved unequal to the task. From time to time, one of us would walk up to the table, pick up a few pieces, fail to put them together-and then offer up and walk away.

It is entirely feasible for you and me to study the Bible as if we are picking up bits and pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, failing to put them together, and never seeing the magnificent picture in front of us. As the book of Hebrews puts it, we can study the Bible and find that it's "of no value" to us since we "did not combine it with faith" (Hebrews 4: 2, NIV1984), in other words. We might be meticulous in our Bible study and disciplined in our Bible memorization and yet all the time refuse truly to accept the Messiah regarding whom we are reading. To such individuals, Jesus offers challenging words: "You do not have word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent" (John 5: 38).

It's sobering to think that even when men and women put themselves in a position to consider God's word, they might still refuse to come to Jesus, the Giver and Sustainer of life. By nature, we have our fingers in our ears to silence God's voice. By nature, Scripture tells us, "no one seeks for God" (Romans 3: 11).

While "there is no life in the Scriptures themselves. If we follow where they lead, they will bring us to Him, and so we find life, not in the Scriptures, but in Him through them." The word of God in Scripture and the Word of God incarnate are interwoven, with the Spirit bringing God's word to individuals so that they might meet and discover Christ, as one author writes, though.

Are you carrying around pieces of the Bible in your mind without putting them together and then standing back to see the beautiful picture of Jesus, arms outstretched, ready to save those who will come to Him in repentance and faith? Will you combine your knowledge of God's word with true belief so that you avoid the pitfall of knowing a lot regarding the word without ever knowing the Word? Will you come to God's word each day expecting to encounter Jesus as His Spirit works through His word? Let us be those who echo the prophet Samuel as we open God's word: "Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3: 10, NIV).

Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Alistair Begg October 6, 2026. Be honest with yourself.

Be specific regarding how you have sinned against the Lord. Though "our sins they are many, His mercy is more." More From This Author, then you will be ready to embrace the most joyful news in the world: that each day. Faith Alistair Begg October 5, 2026. Worshipping through trial and toil. Faith Alistair Begg October 2, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg October 1, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg October 8, 2026. Faith Matt Friedeman October 5, 2026. Paralyzed by fear? Jesus has an answer for that.

In practice, the story of the paralyzed man should obtain us responding to the One with authority. Faith Alistair Begg September 30, 2026. Will He find fruit?

Remain humbly connected to Jesus, our Vine, and His Spirit will grow in you the particularly fruit for which He is looking. News Frank Corder October 8, 2026. Tindell's Attorney General campaign tops million-dollar fundraising mark. News Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press October 8, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Waffle House Index helps Southerners – and FEMA – gauge a storm's severity. News Jeremy Pittari October 8, 2026. Mississippi's 12th Safe Haven baby box unveiled, blessed in Picayune. Business Cass Rutledge October 7, 2026.

Huntington Bank investing over $40 million to modernize Tupelo operations center, regional headquarters. Business Cass Rutledge October 6, 2026. Westwin Elements investing $502 million to establish nickel refinery in Natchez. Business Cass Rutledge October 2, 2026. Gasifier manufacturer Janus Organization bringing 13 jobs to Greenwood. Culture Teresa M. Walker, Associated Press October 8, 2026.

No. 9 Ole Miss and Kewan Lacy head to Vanderbilt with Jared Curtis trying to return. Culture Susan Marquez October 7, 2026.

Sherman Lee Dillon leaves a legacy of family, music, and deep love of community. Culture Alistair Begg October 7, 2026. Vengeance is the Lord's. Opinion Delbert Hosemann October 8, 2026. Hosemann: It is time for Mississippi to ban all kratom products. Opinion Sid Salter October 7, 2026.

Growing calls to suspend or eliminate federal and state gas taxes have consequences. Opinion Roger Wicker September 28, 2026. Putin must be defeated.

For now, putting the pieces together remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.