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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 PEARLS 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 COMMENTARY Wise for Salvation Tom Meyer is known as The Bible Memory Man. He can dramatically quote over 20 complete books of Scripture. This Bible college teacher from Burlington, Kentucky, compares the importance of Bible memorization with the difference between reading about, or listening to, Mozart and playing Mozart from memory. He believes that when you take God's Word into your mind and then repeat it from your heart, it can be life-changing. Timothy, the young convert, traveling partner, and assistant to the apostle Paul, was exposed to Scripture at an early age. Jewish parents often began teaching the Torah to their children at the age of five. Timothy, whose name means "one who honors God," was raised by a Jewish mother and Greek father (Acts 16:1). His godly mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, carefully taught him the Old Testament Scriptures (2 Timothy 1:5). Today's Bible promise, written by Paul while in prison, emphasizes the power of God's Word in making us "wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The Bible was not just written to make us knowledgeable about the history of Israel or the development of the New Testament church. It was given to show how sinful humans might be saved. The Bible is essential to godly living, especially "in the last days" when "perilous times will come" (3:1). We can memorize the entire Bible and know every doctrine, but unless we have faith in what we learn, our knowledge will be futile (v. 5), for the Scriptures must be "spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:28). May your journey in knowing the Holy Scriptures be faith-filled and fruitful. Dear Jesus, I choose to take Your words to heart and by faith, follow them for the rest of my life. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] ILLUSTRATION I launched my book during the second year of the pandemic and did as many virtual interviews as I could to promote it. Not being very tech-savvy, I learned to navigate in cyberspace by trial and error. With each virtual call, I had to troubleshoot a new issue, things like improving the area where I recorded by increasing the lighting for better visibility and rearranging the items behind me for a more pleasing backdrop. Now, when I look back on that first interview, I'm embarrassed by all my rookie mistakes. Not only was I nervous and tripped over my words, but also the space was so dark that the shadows made my slightly discolored incisor tooth look like Witchiepoo's blacked-out tooth in H. R. Pufnstuf. I was mortified! The worst part is it's out there in cyberworld for all to see until the end of time. Like my first online interview, each of Jesus's disciples revealed their shortcomings and proverbial discolored teeth. James and John sought their own glory (Mark 10:3 7). Thomas had his doubts (John 20:2 5). Peter denied Christ three times (Luke 22:61). Worse yet, their faux pas are captured in the most-read book of all time, the Bible, which will remain throughout eternity. If such fallible people were chosen by Christ to be the first church leaders, it gives me great hope. Jesus doesn't call me to perfection so the glory goes to me. He calls me to do the best I can and point the praise to Him, even with a discolored tooth. Claire McGarry Faith Step: Take one proactive step today toward something Jesus is calling you to do, even if you don't feel equipped. [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/2024/20240730-1228.html 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 Hebrews 4:12 - Power Greater Than Nuclear. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240529-1122.html Matthew 4:4 - Spiritual Food Is Necessary for Spiritual Living. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230620-1019.html John 17:17 - Holiness from God's Word. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201007-1438.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/ |