Day #2: “The Word”

II Timothy 3:16.  Paul says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”  

In II Timothy 3, Paul is wrapping down what he is saying to the young pastor, Timothy. In the latter part of chapter 3, Paul is exhorting Timothy to continue in a similar ministry that Paul has engaged in: the preaching of the Scriptures. Paul states that all Scripture, not just some, is inspired by God. God is the originator of Scripture, that all of the Bible has come from God. God has used the earthly authors to convey God's message to mankind. God's words to mankind, the Bible, are incapable of being wrong and they are incapable of containing error. 

The divine inspiration of Scripture is arguably the most important doctrine of Christianity. From the inspiration of Scripture all other doctrines flow. Without this doctrine, no other doctrine of Christianity can be sufficiently affirmed. 

What does this mean to the average Joe? Why is the inspiration of Scripture so important to the man in the pew? First, the Bible is God's communication and revelation of Himself to mankind. The Bible clearly records God revealing certain truths about Himself to certain peoples that we (regardless of age, race, financial standing, or social standing) can learn ourselves. That is all to say that God wants us to know certain things about Himself and He has revealed it in the Bible. We cannot have a thriving relationship with God apart from His Word!

Second, since the Bible is from God, the Bible should rule our lives. The Word of God is to be the standard of faith and practice. The Bible should dictate how we think, how we belief, how we behave, how we make decisions, and much more! The weakness of our churches and the immaturity of our believers are a result of being spiritually malnourished. Just as many of us would never fail to eat a meal, so we should never go without a steady diet of the Word of God! Take time, each and every day, to quietly study the Word of God! 

Let us not be men who sparingly indulge in God's Word. Let us not be husbands who do not read God's Word. Let us not be fathers who cannot lead our families because we don't read the Bible. Let us not be generations of men who stagnate in mediocrity because we are not men of the Word. Let us be men whose families, minds, habits, workplace, and lives are transformed by the Bible!       


GOD’S MAN CHALLENGE 
“Make a firm commitment to be a man who studies God's Word!”

GOD’S MAN PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for not being a man of the Word. Please help me to set aside time daily for You and for Your Word.  AMEN.