Why Should We Study the Bible?
It’s funny how the most familiar verses can also be the most overlooked and unexplored. Take, for example, II Timothy 3:16. This is a verse I’ve been able to quote since I was a child, but it wasn’t until a few days ago that I realized I didn’t fully understand what it was saying.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: — II Timothy 3:16
As I looked at the verse with fresh eyes, I saw what seemed to be two redundancies. Doctrine means teaching, but doesn’t instruction also mean teaching? If so, why is “teaching” listed twice? Likewise, isn’t reproof simply a form of correction, so why is it, too, listed twice? At first glance, it appears the verse could be summed up to say that all scripture is profitable for teaching and correction, right?
Finding Your Purpose, Part Two: Using What God Has Given You
God has given each of us a variety of talents and skills. The question is, what are we doing with them? Are we squandering them on selfish living, or are we using them for His honor and glory?
Finding Your Purpose, Part One: God Knows Your Name
You may not be famous or well-known, but in God's eyes, you're important--so important that He knows you and calls you by name.
Faith in the Darkness
I was recently reading a book by Dr. David Jeremiah, and I came across a quote that made me stop and think. He said, “If our faith doesn’t work in the darkness, it’s not much good in the light.”
I immediately thought of a flashlight. Have you ever tried to use a flashlight in the daytime? It’s pretty useless, isn’t it? Even the brightest flashlights do little to illuminate things in the daylight because the light is already present in the form of the sun. On the contrary, when using a flashlight at night, the difference is impressive. While the light may not chase away all the shadows, it certainly helps to illuminate our path and alleviate our fears.
It All Boils Down to Love
In my Bible study time, I’ve been looking at the various passages of Scripture that talk about putting on or putting off things. The gist of these verses is that we are to put off the old ways, the sinful ways, and the ways of the flesh and put on the new man, the one who longs to be like Christ. It’s been an insightful study, and I’ve learned much.
As I closed out my study yesterday, I read Colossians 3:14, which reads, And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.