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2 Timothy 3:15-17 - The Bible: God's Owner's Manual for Life.2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NLT) You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.INTRODUCTION The Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or merely human ideas about God. It is not a human book. Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed his person and plan to certain believers, who wrote down his message for his people (2 Peter 1:20, 21). This process is known as 'inspiration.' The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural contexts. Although they used their own minds, talents, language, and style, they wrote what God wanted them to write... Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writing. Its words are entirely authoritative for our faith and lives. The Bible is "God-breathed." Read it, and use its teachings to guide your conduct. [Life Application SB] COMMENTARY PEARL Calibrated for the Kingdom Accuracy is paramount to safety in aviation. For instance, a wrong instrument reading can lead to hundreds of people dying in a plane crash. Calibration is a critical process of checking the plane's instruments against other precision equipment to ensure the aircraft is safe to fly. While the cost of a plane crashing because of inaccurate instrument readings is high, the price of a spiritual wreck has eternal consequences. Nothing can keep you true on course like the Word of God! Today's Bible promise describes the calibrating work performed by the Scriptures on the human heart. Better than a maintenance manual for an airplane, the Bible is inspired by God and will make you "thoroughly equipped for every good work?" Multiple benefits come to the student of Scripture. It is profitable for doctrine, or "teaching," for it is our textbook on salvation. It reproves, or "censures," us when we veer off course in our beliefs and practices. The Bible gives "correction," which means it restores us to a right state by transforming us into the likeness of Christ. And it instructs us. The Greek in this verb means to "discipline or train" us in righteousness - that is, in the way of godly living. Just as a professional aviation technician calibrates an airplane's instruments for optimal function, the Word of God calibrates our hearts to perform flawlessly in reflecting the life of Jesus. Are you flying safely and directly toward God's kingdom? Study the Bible every day and let its power equip you for every good work. Lord, as I open Your Word, may its teachings adjust and correct my heart to reflect Your will. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] COMMENTARY The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God. ED126 The Bible is the revelation of God to our world, telling us of the character we must have in order to reach the paradise of God. We are to esteem it as God's disclosure to us of eternal things, - the things of most consequence for us to know. By the world it is thrown aside, as if the perusal of it were finished, but a thousand years of research would not exhaust the hidden treasure it contains. Eternity alone will disclose the wisdom of this book. The jewels buried in it are inexhaustible; for it is the wisdom of an infinite mind. FE444 Inspiration of the Bible Writers. God committed the preparation of His divinely inspired Word to finite man. This Word arranged into books, the Old and New Testaments, is the guidebook to the inhabitants of a fallen world; bequeathed to them, that by studying and obeying the directions, not one soul would lose its way to heaven. 7BC944 In order to arrive at truth, we must have a sincere desire to know the truth and a willingness of heart to obey it. And all who come in this spirit to the study of the Bible will find abundant evidence that it is God's word, and they may gain an understanding of its truths that will make them wise unto salvation. SC111 Satan comes to us with worldly honor, wealth, and the pleasures of life. These temptations are varied to meet people of every rank and degree, tempting them away from God to serve themselves more than their Creator. "All these things will I give thee," said Satan to Christ. "All these things will I give thee," says Satan to us. "All this money, this land, all this power, this honor, and these riches, will I give thee," and we are charmed, deceived, and treacherously allured on to our ruin... The Saviour overcame the wily foe, showing us how we may overcome. He has left us His example, to repel Satan with Scripture. CTr212 ILLUSTRATION I'm not fan of reading instructions. After all, I've earned a college degree, published six books, and raised two children into adulthood. I should be able to figure out how to install a light-therapy lamp. Or so I thought. I inserted the plug into the wall just dandy. I placed the cord into the lamp. And then turned it on. But the doohickey that swivels the lamp's bulb to face me would not cooperate. No matter what I did, I couldn't get it to work. I surrendered and took the silly thing to my handyman husband, Kevin. Kevin grabbed the lamp, twisted a couple times, and presto, just like the photo on the box, it was perfect. I rolled my eyes, smiled, and thanked him. When it comes to life, my approach is the exact opposite. I read the instruction manual - the Bible - every day. I realize I'll never thrive - or survive - based on my education, innate talents, or past experience. I need the wisdom that only God's Word can provide. And if I don't get something? I talk to Jesus. "What does this mean, Lord? I can't figure it out." If I listen deep and long enough - not all Jesus's answers come immediately - He shows me what He meant. Jesus can make everything in my life work. Jeanette Levellie Faith Step: Write down a scripture or biblical concept you don't understand. Pray daily until Jesus helps you make sense of it. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] CLOSING THOUGHT The whole Bible is God's inspired Word. Because it is inspired and trustworthy, we should 'read' it and 'apply' it to our lives. The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. It is our safeguard against false teaching and our source of guidance for how we should live. It is our only source of knowledge about how we can be saved. God wants to show you what is true and equip you to live for him. How much time do you spend in God's Word? Read it regularly to discover God's truth and to become confident in your life and faith. Develop a plan for reading the whole Bible, not just the familiar passages... In our zeal for the 'truth' of Scripture, we must never forget its 'purpose' - to equip us to do good. We should not study God's Word simply to increase our knowledge or to prepare us to win arguments. We should study the Bible so that we will know how to do Christ's work in the world. Our knowledge of God's Word is not useful unless it strengthens our faith and leads us to do good. [Life Application SB] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 - The Bible: Gods Owners Manual for Life. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230814-0906.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230618-0806.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210319-1124.html 2 Peter 1:20-21 - The Bible and Gods Word. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230605-0934.html Psalm 119:105 - God's Guidance. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240608-0930.html 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - How To Use The Sword. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191216-0923.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |