All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
Suppose you want to improve at golf and decide to pay an instructor for a series of lessons. If you’re serious about improving, you’d be wise to implement the ideas the professional shares.
For those who need help with the flat stick, there is no shortage of gimmicks to try. There’s the ‘face-on’ method. The ‘hammY’ putter sets you up better for a slap shot than a putt. And my personal favorite is the ‘S7K’ putter, which stands up on its own while you analyze the line behind it. Shoot, for those desperate enough, they’d putt backward if told they’d make more putts.
People will go to great lengths to better themselves at a silly game, yet when presented with the road map to a better life, so many choose to ignore it.
One of the basics of faith is this: read Scripture. Why? Today’s verse explains. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).
Mic drop! And there are plenty more throughout Scripture. If you open the Bible and read long enough, you’ll find something applicable wherever you are in life, often ‘seemingly’ without intent.
Here’s an example from my past. Years ago, I was planning a retreat and struggling with a weekend theme. With extra time on my hands one day, I thought the fruit of the Spirit might inspire and turned to Ephesians 5 in my Bible.
For those well-versed in Scripture, you probably know where this is going. It turns out the fruit of the Spirit is in Galatians 5. However, I found my theme right there in Ephesians: “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
The NLT translates the last verse as: “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
“Don’t act thoughtlessly.” That phrase hit me hard, as too often my auto-pilot (and perhaps yours) is set to ‘reactive’ rather than ‘proactive,’ and then I wonder why I find myself in a spiritual malaise.
The antidote? “Understand what the Lord wants you to do.” That understanding is found in Scripture.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Renewing my mind is a proactive step, largely achieved by being in the Word. Just as a golf instructor will talk about the basics of grip, stance, and balance, my encouragement to your faith comes from the name of a familiar non-profit literacy organization: reading is fundamental. Scripture reading, in particular.
Prayer: Lord, you have given us the gift of the Bible. Inspire us to open that gift over and over again.