Our authority, God’s word. Authority for my life
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me to remember that our authority as Christians comes from your Holy word and show me how I can use what you teach to show others the way. Amen.
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 3:14-17 NIV
REFLECT:
Many of us pick up a Bible or open an app every day and read the word of God. It may be easy to forget that the scriptures that we read and ponder are more than just words on a page, written thousands of years ago. Those verses are powerful. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Alive and active is how the word of God was described in writings to the Hebrews and it still is today.
APPLY:
God calls us to be shining examples of his love for others. The Bible provides many, many examples of how he wants us to fulfill his commandments. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) When you look for ways to fulfill these two greatest commandments, remember that in doing so, you are taking the God-breathed scripture and putting it to work in your life and impacting the life of others.
CLOSING PRAYER:
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1) Amen
WORSHIP: