Devotional Message

THE VALUE OF SCRIPTURES

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work”
(2 Tim. 3:16)

  Our theme for the month of July is Christian Education. The greatest book where we can derive the greatest learning is the Bible which is the Word of God. Why is this so? This is because the Bible is a depository of truth pertaining to the past, present, and future destiny of man. I would say that any person who may not have gone through higher learning but have mastered the scripture is wiser that those who have PhD’s. This is because the greatest teachings that can set apart any man or woman from all others are derived from the Bible. I am talking about a person who not only reads the Bible but live out the teachings of the Bible in his or her day to day conduct. This passage identifies four important aspects in the study the Bible:

1. For Teaching — there are many areas of learning that we can derive from studying the Bible. For instance, we can know the beginning and origin of all creation; the beginning of human history; the entrance of sin and the consequences of it; the great salvation brought about by the death and resurrect-on of our Lord Jesus Christ; the chief end of every person, etc. The Bible teaches every human being how to have life to the fullest. Those who read and follow God’s revealed truth are the ones who live happily and peacefully as opposed to those who are not guided from the Word of God.
   
   
2. For Reproof — the righteousness of God is revealed in the Scriptures. God’s holiness demands righteous living from His children. God says-“Be holy as I am holy.” The Bible serves like a mirror to His followers. When we read the Bible, we see the clear commands of God not to follow the world’s standards for they are not only anti-Christ, but it leads those who live under the world’s influence to destruction. In this day and age, the modern man no longer recognizes wrong deeds as sin. Sin to them is nothing but mistakes we may have done due to human weakness. There is nothing wrong with that so the psychologists say. Contrary to the clear teachings of God, sin leads man to death. Yet, as we read God’s Word, we are guided to righteous living.
   
   
3. For Correction — there are Christians who are living in a backslidden state, yet, when they hear God’s Word preached to them, they recognize that they are living so far away from God. Their actuations, attitudes, and ways in life are not in accordance with the clear teachings of the Bible. God’s Word rebukes us when we go astray and guides us back to the right path. But to those who disregard the Word of God will end up to their own destruction.
   
   
4. For Training in Righteousness — Timothy had known the Scriptures since his early years. Now, he was to continue in them. He was blest to have a God-fearing mother, and a grandmother who trained him how to conduct his life based from the Word of God. I believe that when he first heard the apostle Paul in his preaching, his words quickly resonated in his understanding of the Scripture. As a result, he not only became an ardent follower of Christ. More than this, he became the youngest pastor of the early churches and eventually became one of the earliest Fathers of the first century church.
   

  We’re alarmed about the disintegration of society, but our reading of the Bible reminds us that the world has always been a dangerous place for God’s people. Human history is filled with wars, death, pestilence, persecution and pain. Paul describes our era as “perilous times.” We needed instructions and guidance how to navigate our way from this darkened world and evolved triumphant in our quest for truth and righteous living. Thank God, He gave us a book that does not only reveal who He is but has given us a guide on how to live. The Bible is a living, lasting, and life-giving book, perfect, powerful, profitable and productive. It is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction.

  As a pastor, I am saddened to see very few people, including parents of little children no longer attending Sunday school. If fathers and mothers are not interested in studying the Word of God, what would become of their children? Many Christians would agree every word that I have written here; but are they reading the Bible on a regular basis? And if they read their Bibles, are they living it up? At times, it pained my heart to hear people outside the church hurl insult to the believers calling them “hypocrites!” When Christians who knew the teachings of the Word and don’t live their lives accordingly, they become true hypocrites. May we all exude the life of Christ in and through us so that the world may see the difference in us. Thus, they will be drawn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Amen!

by: Pastor Elmer Manzo