The Word of God

Every copy of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs that the Gideons International distributes contains the following statement about the Bible: 

“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God, its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents”. 

I guess that after this, I have nothing more to add. I shall simply elaborate on these truths.

What does the Bible say about itself? 

Second 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,” 

• It is able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus
• It is given by the inspiration of God – What does this statement mean? Inspiration means that God literally spoke every word that was written down
• It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (See also Psalm 19:7)

The Bible is a miracle Book not because it contains a record of miracles; it is also a miracle as its own birth. It came into existence by the inspiration of God (Second Timothy 3:16) and Psalm 33:6. It is also a miracle in its writing (See Second Peter 1:21). It is the only Book with forty authors writing on a single theme over a period of One thousand, five hundred Years. Its survival despite opposition is a miracle and its reception over the entire world is a miracle. It is the only Book that is read in the entire world and translated in all languages. Of all the books ever written, the Bible is the only one that fully understands man.

It is the manual for living. The Book and the products, and man were brought into being by the same breath of God (Genesis 2:7) cf Second Timothy 3:16. It writes about our Creator; our Destiny, our present life; listen to it as it asks you in Psalm 119:9: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed unto Your Word” It is food for our strength. We can only appreciate the food if we are hungry. We should be hungry for the word of God (Psalm 119:20); it is only then that we can exclaim like the Psalmist: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!”(Psalm 119:103) See also Jeremiah 15:16 and Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:3

How do we read the Word of God? 

Peter says in First Peter 2:2 “As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby”. Many Christians today are getting diluted milk because they are not milking their own cows themselves. Are you milking your own cow? Have you read your Bible today? Or do you depend on someone else – no matter who that person is? There is nothing like milking your cow yourself. “Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (Second Timothy 2:15)

God bless you all.