AUG 1

2 Timothy 3:16
Memorise Isaiah 55:11
“… it shall not return unto me void…”

The entire Bible is inspired – that is, divinely authored by God Himself. It is not merely another book written by man. It is far better than the most famous books, those on the bestseller lists or those made into blockbuster films. God is the Bible’s ultimate and divine author, and we are told that studying this perfect and inspired book will certainly be profitable for us. To make a profit is to gain, and benefit. No matter what we do, be it study, practise a musical instrument, develop a hobby or train in sports, it is always with the hope that we make gains, progress and thus profit. The Bible, which God inspired His servants to write, will surely lead to gains, never losses. The Bible helps us in 4 areas: in doctrine - the principles of our beliefs; in reproving us – by expressing disapproval for sin and error; in correcting us – by showing us the right way; and finally, in instruction for righteous living.

You may, armed with the latest technology, study techniques, equipment and training methods, spend many hours pursuing gain in different endeavours. However, sometimes the results don’t show and gains are not made. We may feel that the gains are not commensurate with the effort we put in. Now, it’s definitely not wrong to work hard or ‘smart’ in our studies or work for testimony’s sake and for the glory of God, but what about working hard for spiritual profit that is guaranteed by your Heavenly Father? This is profit as it will directly influence our walk with God. This is profit that will last beyond this earthly life.

Perhaps the question asked in today’s devotion should instead be, how faithful must we be to the Bible? The answer should be nothing less than a total, complete adherence to every word of it, not just in our personal lives but also in what we allow in our churches. Our understanding and application of the Bible orders our system of church government, the way we worship, the hymns we sing, what is taught in Sunday School and the form and substance of our fellowship groups. The Bible is the very Word of God and so we must be faithful to it, as much as God is faithful to us.

Thought: In your church and personal walk with Christ, is there heavy reliance on books written by famous preachers, theologians or charismatic or popular leaders, over the Bible?
Prayer: “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:17)