Value #2 - The truth and sufficiency of the Scriptures for the whole of life.
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. "
(John 17:17)
Even in an age of relativism the hunger for the truth is unmistakable. As people are robbed of their investments, watch precious tax dollars bail out the irresponsible, hear backpedaling politians, they crave the truth. But where would one turn to find it? There is only one sure place, the Author of truth, God and His Word.
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. "
(John 17:17)
Even in an age of relativism the hunger for the truth is unmistakable. As people are robbed of their investments, watch precious tax dollars bail out the irresponsible, hear backpedaling politians, they crave the truth. But where would one turn to find it? There is only one sure place, the Author of truth, God and His Word.
The veracity of the Scriptures is anchored to the character of God (2 Tim 3.16). To doubt God is to doubt His Word. To doubt His Word is to doubt God. He sent His Son as a living testimony to His character and His Word (Jn 1.1-16, Heb 1.3). Jesus proclaimed He was the very essence of truth (Jn 14.6, 18.37) and that the Word in its entirety is truth (Jn 17.17, Mt 4.4, 5.18).
And the truth found in the Bible is enough for a person to live a life to wholly and completely glorify God, correctly relate to his fellow man, and gain wisdom for living in general (2 Tim 3.16-17). It speaks by principle to every area of life. And although it does not cover all the particulars of life, it does give the guiding principles to address the specifics (Mic 6.8).
Now if we believe this is the truth about the Truth, how should we respond? It would behoove us to saturate our lives with this life giving Word (Deut 6.6-9, Jn 8.31-32, Col 3.16). The Scriptures are our best hope of understanding God. The Bible is our best hope for grappling with who we are and what we were created to do. The Word is our best hope of glorifying our Creator through our thoughts, words, and deeds.
But the disciplines of hearing, reading, memorizing, studying , and meditating on the Word of God can never be treated as an end in itself. They are a means to an end. These disciplines are to help us accomplish what should be our highest objective; knowing, loving and becoming like Jesus Christ. To the degree in which we invest ourselves in the Word and its application will be a direct indicator of our true values (Ps 119.9,11, Jm 1.22, Mt 7.24-28).
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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved
© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved
