God’s Beautiful Word
As I preached on Sunday from 2 Timothy 3:14-17, the Bible is God’s breathed word. It is truth. It’s powerful. It teaches (instructing our minds). It reproves (convincing, persuading our hearts). It corrects (admonishes us to repent and exposes our sin). It trains in righteousness (shows us how to live righteously in Christ’s righteousness). It equips us (develops us as followers of Jesus and equips us to make other followers of Jesus). Psalm 19 points us to the hope of the word. It revives the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, warns of sin, and promises of reward for the obedient. The word is sweeter than the finest foods, and richer than the greatest material wealth. His word helps a young man keep his way pure (Psalm 119:9-11), and guides our feet and lights our path (Psalm 119:105). The word doesn’t call us out of the world but promises to sanctify us while we are on mission in the world. (John 17:17). Ephesians 6 calls the word the sword of the Spirit and it is his Spirit who through the word cuts down to the core of our being, down to the joint and marrow of our souls (Hebrews 4:12). So most importantly it is the word that God has ordained for his Spirit to use to awaken us to faith, turning us from sin to affection for Him. (John 17:14-21, 1 Peter 1:22-25).
May we not give in today to the devil’s designs to crush our faith by ripping us from a relationship with God through his word. Read it, study it, pray it, memorize it, share it- for your joy, the joy of all peoples, and ultimately for God’s supreme glory.
