JAN 28

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
Memorise 1 Corinthians 2:13
“not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth“

The only approach that the child of God should take when coming to the Bible, is to accept all that God has given to us by faith. This faith cannot be forced or engineered, but is placed in believers by the Holy Spirit. It is something inexplicable, but yet very real and is something that is experienced by believers throughout the ages. 1 Corinthians 2:9- 10 describes such understanding of spiritual things as something that God has ‘prepared for them that love him’ and that ‘God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit’. It is something that God has done for us, and on our part, we simply follow the leading of the Spirit, and accept the revelation that God has given to us. With the Holy Spirit guiding and convicting our hearts, we will be able to know and understand all ‘the things that are freely given to us of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:12) – the truth of God’s Word. This is something that is spiritually discerned, and something that the natural man, the unbeliever is unable to understand.

Thus when the Bible authenticates itself, by declaring that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16), the believer, being guided by the Holy Spirit, simply takes God at His Word, and firmly believes it with all his heart. The unbeliever, no matter how much fact and evidence he is shown, will always remain sceptical, for without the Holy Spirit in him, he can never understand such amazing and wonderful spiritual truths.

Dear teen, what a precious book we have in our hands. Let us endeavour to read and study it with all the time we have despite our busy schedule. The world makes many demands on our time and our stress from having to keep up with expectations is great. Nevertheless, you must discipline yourself and find time to read and study the Bible. Perhaps you need to cut down on the pleasures of the world and practise self-denial – play less, hang out with friends less, cut down on non-essential activities and you will certainly find time to do it.

Thought: The Holy Spirit “turns on the lights” for us so that we can see the truth of God.
Prayer: O loving and gracious Father in heaven, help me to love Your Word and spend more time reading and enjoying it.