Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
- THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed, alive), and is profitable for doctrine (what to believe), for reproof (to tells us what is wrong), for correction (tells us how to make it right), for instruction in righteousness (tells us how to live). That the man of God may be perfect, (capable, being empowered to do what God wants), thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Bible was written by man, but authored by God. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). It is a book that you can read in which the author (the precious Holy Spirit) is with you to guide you and to help you understand it.
The Bible comes alive to those who have received the Holy Spirit because they believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to earth to redeem the lost to the Father by His sacrificial death on the cross, that He arose on the third day and has ascended on to heaven from where He will return.
The Bible is useful to teach, rebuke, correct, train and equip us. When we read out Bible we have an encounter with the Living God.
The Bible transcends time, culture, age, race, gender and education. God’s Word speaks to all who seek Him as seen in some of the following verses:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). In this dark world God’s Word will light our way with His awesome light if we let Him!
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
“I will take delight in your commands, which I love. I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes” (Psalm 119:47-48).
The Bible offers profound insight into our heart and soul. “For the word of God is living and powerful (active), and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The Word of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, provides a living encounter with God Himself. As you read the Bible, God discerns your deepest inner secrets and reveals the thought and intents of your heart.
The Lord is truly our wonderful Counselor. Praise His Holy Name!
- THE BIBLE IS ETERNAL
Psalm 119:89 says: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”
In 1 Peter 1:24-25 we read: “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And Mark 13:31 states: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
When we die we cannot take anything with us other than the Word of God that we have treasured in our spirit. Our world is a temporary place, but how awesome is our God that we can study His eternal word while in this temporary body.
2 Corinthians 5:1 tells us, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
If you read, and treasure God’s eternal Word you know that you have an inheritance reserved for you in heaven.
- THE BIBLE IS TRUE
The Bible is true; it is inerrant (without error) as we read in Psalm 119:160, “Your Word is true from the beginning: and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.”
The Bible is absolute truth; it is our love letter from God. It is our owner’s manual of Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. The Bible teaches us reverence for life from conception to the grave and we are commanded to search the Scriptures because they point to Jesus and eternal life. As Jesus told the Pharisees: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).
- THE BIBLE REVEALS PROPHECY
True prophets were called and chosen by God and given prophecy through divine inspiration to warn God’s people. Prophesy was the declaring or describing of something that would occur in the future, which was beyond the power of human wisdom to foresee, discern, or imagine. To prophesy is to speak forth truth.
Statistics show that over twenty-five percent of the Bible is made up of Bible prophecy; and that of the existing 31,124 verses in Scripture, 8,352 are prophecy verses.
Since Jesus said that we are to live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4) we cannot ignore Bible prophecy.
We need to understand that the ancient Jews were careful to use prophecy as a measuring stick. If someone claimed to be a prophet, yet his predictions did not come true, the punishment was severe: “If any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death” (Deuteronomy 18:20).
A true prophet of God was required to deliver God’s message accurately. Remember, only God can “declare the end from the beginning” and forecast to the very day the “things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:10).
Reading and studying prophecy is fascinating since it not only opens up our eyes to the truth of God’s Word but it also keeps us from being mislead by those that add or take away from Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19); which the Lord tells us will lead to God taking away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:19).
Please always remember that God wants us to regard His Word as the most important source for life and we are commanded to study Scriptures. The following verses are just a few that mention these commands:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. (Psalm 119:15-16)
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. (Psalm 37:31)
As we see, we are to study Scripture to transform our life. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Remembering that, “blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
Therefore, study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
*******
SOURCE: Parts taken from, “Meditating on the Bible;” a message from our sister in Christ, Carol T.
*******
Mission Venture Ministries 
Leave a comment