2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New
International Version)
All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
All
Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make
us realise what is wrong in our lives.
It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way,
fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. (New Living
Translation)
Sometimes
I look at these extracts from Scripture and my mind immediately draws a blank,
today, it drew a smile because I immediately knew what I’d be writing
about. I’ve included two versions of
this passage. These are the two versions
of the bible I use most frequently and generally; they don’t vary terribly much
but they did today despite putting forth the same message, and that’s why I’ve
included both.
I
changed my car about four months ago and it has a modern function that I really
don’t like. When driving on a road that
has clear markings at the side and centre, if you go near to one side or the
other, it automatically brings you back to the middle. It feels like an invisible pair of hands are
grabbing the steering wheel and every time this happens, I get a major
fright. I’ve found a button that can
switch this function off so every time I get into the car, I switch it off….unless
I forget! In that case, I wait until I
get the inevitable fright….then, switch it off.
Now
when you get a different car, just like televisions, kitchen appliances, audio
appliances etc., they all come with a manual.
In
the limited research I’ve carried out, I don’t think for a minute it’s just
me. Maybe it’s a ‘man thing’, but,
referring to a manual or instructions of any sort, is always a last
resort. I’m sure there will be a way of
switching this function off in my car, but to find out how, I would need to
read the manual. Rather than do that, I’ve
been switching it off nearly every day for the last four months. Every car I’ve changed throughout my life has
borne the scratches and scrapes of everyday use, but the manuals have always
been in pristine condition.
The
bible is a special book, and we know that everything in it is ‘God-breathed’. It can provide a disturbing read, an
inspirational read, a comforting read, an assuring read and it can even make
you smile. It is not a book to be kept
in a drawer and just taken out on a Sunday morning. It can straighten us out if we’re on a wrong
path but most importantly, it is God’s way of directing us and preparing us for
everything that He requires from us in this life. The bible is a book to be read.
Prayer
God our Father, it is with
great thankfulness in our hearts that we approach your Throne of Mercy, where
you deliver justice and mercy to each of us, according to our works and
according to our faith, for we know that you are righteous, and our
chastisement will purify and sanctify us. Jesus taught us to be obedient unto
death, performing according to your Holy will and adhering, under all
circumstances to your Holy Word, which enlightens and perfects us, in learning
and believing, to live with integrity and spiritual maturity. Amen
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