THURSDAY 27th
Today as we continue from yesterday, we will look at some verses that remind us of the importance of the Word of God.
Yesterday we had as a reading the verses from Psalm 19 where David makes some statements about the Scripture: (re-read the verses)
Verse 7 it is perfect and sure, verse 8 it is right and pure, verse 9 it is true and righteous, verse 10 it is to be more desired than gold and in verse 11 it is a book that warns and yet also gives great reward. Let’s be honest if we saw that as a description on the back of a book about the content within, then who wouldn’t want to read it – a book that is perfect, worth more than gold and brings with it great reward!
From the New Testament we read yesterday Hebrews 12:4 ‘For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’ This verse reminds us that the Bible is different to every other book in that it is living and active, or as the KJV puts it ‘quick and powerful’ this Book can do what no other Book can do. There used to be an advert for a particular beer that said ‘refreshes the parts that other beers cannot reach’, now I cannot tell you whether that is true or not as I have never drank beer or any other form of alcohol and I have no intention of ever starting, but when it comes to the Word of God, it most certainly refreshes the parts that other books cannot reach, but more than that as this verse in Hebrews says, it reaches into the parts that no other book can reach, it reaches right down into the depths of the inner man.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read concerning the Bible: ‘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.’ It is a thorough book that comes from the Creator himself, although various people were used in its compilation, it was inspired in its entirety by the Holy Spirit and is profitable for every part of our Christian life, good for teaching, good for reproving, good for correcting, good for training in righteousness, good for equipping us. It is the best and most comprehensive life manual we can have to read and to be trained by.
Then we have in 1 Peter 1:23-25 ‘. . . since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.’ It is not only a God Inspired book, it is an imperishable book, it is an eternal book, which means not only will it survive for ever but that which it teaches stands for ever, this is so important in this age in which we live, where moral issues are shifting almost on a daily basis and the verdict is given when you stand on Biblical grounds ‘Ah that’s an old fashioned book, it is so outdated’ – NO IT IS’NT it is an eternal book with eternal values, it may be centuries old yet it is more up-to-date than tomorrows newspapers! It is and must be our moral compass as well as our spiritual compass.
And we cannot leave out Psalm 119, throughout this chapter we are reminded of the blessing of reading and keeping the law (word) of the LORD. For example, verses 105 – 112 ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.’