The world will tell you that the Bible is completely antiquated and that it has no relevance today. They have been saying that for years. Could anyone be more wrong? I was planning on becoming a history professor back in college, but life took a strange course. The one saying that we claimed to be true is that History always repeats itself. What was true 2000 years ago is still true today.
Consider this; We are all in there. When it talks about the prodigal son, that’s me. When it talks about Jonah, me also. There are many others that remind me of me. Trust me, you are in there also! You just have to dig for the truth. God has given us everything we need to live properly written in the Book. What we have to bring to the table is a searching heart. That searching heart should approach the Bible in two ways: “Lord show me what You want to reveal to me about Yourself and teach me what You want me to change about myself.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
What I observe in today’s church society is that we are okay with the “profitable for teaching” part of 2 Timothy. But we drop the ball with the reproof, correction, and training in righteousness parts. Why is that? Reproof means, God disapproves of the way we are acting or what we are saying, and whatever that is we must stop. Correction means, not only do we need to stop, but we need to set a different course. And training in righteousness is the hardest of all. Righteousness is a holy virtue that is impossible to obtain by ourselves. We must have the Holy Spirit living within us, teaching and admonishing us to the ways of God. And that takes a full commitment on our part.
We must get past that soft stuff that is being taught on a Sunday morning and move on to richer heights. We should not place the blame on the pastors because they are trying to speak to everyone. And most church goers do not want the harder things that bring conviction, repentance, and correction. That’s the way it is. If you want more then you must dig for yourself. Once you start off on your own, you will find a whole new meaning to the Word of God.
Again, please approach the Scriptures as if your life depends on them. You will never get any further in your walk unless you do. It’s a brave trail, but a lonely one also. So, read and expect reproof, correction, and in the end righteousness. You can absolutely count on the Spirit to teach you His ways and to perfect your course. Have an open and faithful heart and you will not be disappointed.
God’s speed!
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