God's Word
In America, Bibles are everywhere. You find Bibles in grocery stores, prisons, and hotel rooms. They’re available in all sizes, shapes, colors, translations, versions, study editions, etc. You can purchase a Bible bound in paperback, kivar, hardback, genuine leather, bonded leather, simulated leather, or imitation leather. The Bible is the all time best seller and is available to over 98% of the world's population in over 2,454 languages (the remaining 2% speak an estimated 4,446 different languages; of these, about 1,600 are already in the translation process). Last year 500 million Bibles were published and over 25 million were purchased in the USA.
Bibles are everywhere in America, yet millions of people miss experiencing the full blessing of Bible study. Some people seem to expect the Word of God to hit them like a bolt of lightning each time they read or study it. Although the "bolt" may powerfully "strike" us on occasion, the effect of God's Word is more akin to vitamins than to lightning. People who regularly take vitamins do so because of their long-term benefits. They do not expect to feel new strength surging through their bodies the first time they swallow a multi-vitamin. They realize that by consistently taking vitamins as part of a long term health regiment, they will experience a beneficial effect on their physical health. In much the same way, the real value of Bible reading and study lies in the cumulative effect that long-term exposure to God’s Word has on our lives.
While I would not discourage those who grab the Bible for momentary inspiration, I do appeal to you to become a student of God's Word for life. I promise that you will never exhaust the Bible's ability to speak to you fresh and new. Each day of each year you can depend on Scripture to inspire, educate, convict, encourage, guide, correct, and empower you as you follow Jesus. The best is yet to come.
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 competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Message)
Bibles are everywhere in America, yet millions of people miss experiencing the full blessing of Bible study. Some people seem to expect the Word of God to hit them like a bolt of lightning each time they read or study it. Although the "bolt" may powerfully "strike" us on occasion, the effect of God's Word is more akin to vitamins than to lightning. People who regularly take vitamins do so because of their long-term benefits. They do not expect to feel new strength surging through their bodies the first time they swallow a multi-vitamin. They realize that by consistently taking vitamins as part of a long term health regiment, they will experience a beneficial effect on their physical health. In much the same way, the real value of Bible reading and study lies in the cumulative effect that long-term exposure to God’s Word has on our lives.
While I would not discourage those who grab the Bible for momentary inspiration, I do appeal to you to become a student of God's Word for life. I promise that you will never exhaust the Bible's ability to speak to you fresh and new. Each day of each year you can depend on Scripture to inspire, educate, convict, encourage, guide, correct, and empower you as you follow Jesus. The best is yet to come.
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 competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Message)
