READ YOUR BIBLE
Worn along the edges, the slightly faded, coffee hued sleeve covered the Bible my mom carried from room to room. While Daniel and I were somewhere playing or arguing with Jessica often stretched too close to the TV, my mother’s voice would echo on the phone in the background, “Hold on, let me get my Bible.” Whether she was talking to one of her siblings or a close friend, before she settled into what she thought or believed, she’d always consult scripture, saying, “Let’s see what the Lord has to say”.
While I didn’t realize it at the time, my mother was teaching me what it truly means to be submitted to Christ. Whether she was angry with God or man, grieving the loss of her sister or mother, or navigating seasons of spiritual fire or the heavy burden of heartbreak, her commitment to her faith and salvation never wavered.
As Christians, understanding and devotion to the Word of God is not optional. We grow in wisdom and intimacy, in joy and strength, in humility and grace, as we discover the heart of our Savior through scripture.
revelation of scripture is essential to the Identity, fruitfulness, godliness, and sanctification of every believer.
We were not made for ourselves. The plans we create for our lives, with minds and hearts that we don’t even make function day to day, only further prove how fragile and dependent we truly are. We don’t know why we were born or why we have the parents we do. We can’t explain our natural gifts or talents. If we’re honest, we realize that we don’t know anything. We weren’t in the room when God created us, yet so much of our lives is spent arguing with Him about what we were made for. But without Him—without true identity and revelation from Him—how can we truly know our purpose?
God holds the manual for our hearts and our lives in His hands. He has given us an entire book that reveals who He is and who we are, yet we often go days without reading it. Sunday services aren’t enough. A Scripture of the Day isn’t enough. Instagram reels and posts aren’t enough. Let’s take a closer look at what scripture says about the importance of knowing the Word.
2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Knowledge of scripture is directly related to wisdom, salvation, and faith.
Every single word in the bible was inspired by God. Meaning every single word was intended for us to know, study, and apply.
Profitable means “helpful, serviceable, or advantageous”.
We are made complete and equipped for every good work through our knowledge, revelation, and application of scripture.
Hebrews 4:12 “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.”
Scripture confirms other scriptures! Jesus, who was also named the Word of God (John 1:1), is alive and active. What does this tell us? Jesus, who is also the Word of God, is alive and active, capable of separating our soul and spirit, and judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Our hearts are deceitful and difficult to know (Jeremiah 17:9) so we need the Word of God (Jesus), who is also known and revealed in scripture, to accurately know ourselves.
Psalms 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
We are simple-minded without Godly understanding and revelation.
Without the revelation of the Word of God we are in darkness. In darkness we are lost and easily deceived.
“Unfolding” is ongoing, meaning our pursuit has to also be ongoing.
Psalms 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.”
Hope in anything other than the Word of God will have you laid out on your back in despair. Don’t waste your time.
that which has been is that will be [again], and that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun. ecclesiastes 1:9
Just as fashion, makeup, body types, and music recycle decades later, so do many elements of life. The prideful and unrepentant heart of man that existed in the Old Testament is still present today. The false teachers and prophets who tried to deceive believers in the days of Paul are still at work today. The love of money and sin that wreaked havoc in the churches in the New Testament continues to do so now. The mission of Satan to steal, kill, and destroy lives, which was active then, is still active today.
We need God just as much now as they did then, and scripture is just as powerful and relevant today as it was in the past. So, read your bible. Study, so that when trials come you have something to stand on. Bury scriptures in your heart so that when someone asks you about your faith, you have something to say.
