“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
I am giving thanks to God today for the Word of God. This is another profound blessing that is ours along with our salvation in Christ.
It would be an understatement to say that I’m familiar with the Bible. I have no intention to brag, but as a pastor, the Bible is my main tool and companion in ministry. I study it, preach on it, teach it, and speak it in conversations with people, whether discipling, comforting, advising, correcting, or blessing.
And yet, I find that I continually am learning new insights from the Word. I continually find that my daily personal time with the Word brings me into fresh contact with timely and relevant application for what I’m dealing with at that time.
This is because the Bible, the written and revealed Word of God, is unlike any other book ever written. It IS the Word of God. It is a living Word, through which God speaks His grace, mercy, instruction, rebuking and blessing into our lives today, as Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews puts it this way, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It is the Word of God that gives faith and sustains faith. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
The Bible is the work of humans, but at the same time, it is the work of God, so that it is exactly what we need to hear from God – not just at the time it was written, but in our lives today. So during this week of thanksgiving for salvation, it is fitting to give God thanks for His Word, which brings that salvation to me, and equips me for living it out in my life. Thanks be to God for this gift!
What are you thankful for today?
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