MAY 15

Matthew 4:4
Memorise 1 Peter 2:2
“…desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE REJECT VPP?

Matthew 4:4 was spoken by Jesus to Satan as He countered Satan’s attempt to lure Jesus into sinning. He tried to entice Jesus to end His fast by turning stones into bread – to use his abilities to satiate a physical desire. While certain desires are not wrong in and of themselves (for example, the desire to have one’s hunger satisfied in this instance), the manner in which such a desire is satisfied can be wrong. Jesus quoted Scripture (Deut 8:3), that it is really not about the physical needs, but the spiritual needs that man needs in order to live. He was careful to emphasize that we need each and every word of God in order to live.

Once again, there would be no reason to hold God’s Word in such high regard unless it was authoritative. In yesterday’s reading, we saw how it would be impossible for God’s Word to carry such authority unless VPP was true – that is, God’s Word remains intact, completely accurate and accessible to this very day. Not believing in VPP leads to doubt in the most important message of salvation which the Bible holds for unbelievers. It also leads to compromised standards of obedience, sanctification and holiness for believers. How can a believer steadfastly obey every commandment unless he is certain that “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” has been kept pure and is found in the Bible which he holds in his hands? He would have doubts as to which part of the Bible was lost, wrongly reproduced or corrupted. This being the case, it would be difficult if not impossible for anyone to trust and obey God’s Word to the jot and tittle. The full effects may not be fully seen and felt immediately but the rejection of VPP may lead to unbelief or compromise in future generations.

Our heavenly Father is not a derelict father who gives to man the most valuable gift that ever existed, only to allow it to suffer the effects of human error and satanic influence. He desires that man live by every word that He had recorded in Scripture through the divine inspiration of human authors. It is not in His character to deny man that which He desires man to know, trust and obey. If this were so He would cease to be God for He would be contradicting Himself! But we know that cannot be possible as the God of the Bible is a perfect God who cannot lie and is never wrong.

Thought: To say that God is absolutely trustworthy but doubt the perfect preservation of the source of this declaration makes no sense.
Prayer: O Lord, help me to tell others about VPP not only because it glorifies You but also because it is true.