Honor God’s Word
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear heavenly father, Help me obey your scriptures when it says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth,” II Timothy 2:15, NIV.
"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful understanding.” II Timothy 4:1-2
REFLECT:
The world we live in today is ever-changing. Things that once defined our nation as values are no longer the same. No longer do most Americans attend weekly church services. According to the latest surveys, approximately 24% of Americans attend church weekly. The number of Americans identifying as Protestant has gone from 70% in 1948 to now 37% in 2020. This brings up the question – where has the church gone? Perhaps we can go back to 1962. Before then, prayer in public school was a well-established thing. Children would start each day with prayer before beginning studies. Then, in 1962, a case went before the Supreme Court of the United States where it was determined that prayer should not be a part of public schools. Another date of significance is 1973. In this year, the famous Roe v Wade case went before the Supreme Court and the court found that it was a woman’s right to kill an unborn baby through an abortion. Since then over 60 million plus babies have been killed through this heinous act.
While our nation and its values may have changed, one thing has not changed – God’s word. God’s word is always the same. Isaiah 40:8, NIV says “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Hebrews 4:12, NIV says “For the Word of God is living 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.” Therefore, it is so critical that we study God’s word, together, with others and our families. As a father or mother, let your children see your values by observing your study of God’s word. There is nothing that reinforces the importance of God’s word more than this.
APPLY:
While there are many approaches to the study of God’s word, none are as effective as participating in group Bible studies. I value the men’s weekly Bible study I am a part of. While I have been studying God’s word for many years, I still learn so much from the men I am surrounded with in our group. If it is your week to lead, it prompts you to study more than usual in order to lead a challenging discussion about the topic of the week and to be able to correctly identify issues brought up by the group. I also encourage daily devotions with spouses and some type of regular devotion with your children. And let me help you from the beginning…you will fail from time to time. The enemy will come at you with circumstances and issues of all kinds as an effort to drive you away from God’s word. So just be aware that even the devil realizes the power of the spoken word and wants to keep you from it! "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God shall raise a standard against him!" (Isaiah 59:19, KJV). This is one of my favorite scriptures!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, let your Word transform my life, shape my thinking, lead my steps, and cause me to follow your ways. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path,” (Psalm 119:105, NIV).