Scripture text for Thursday, May 6th, 2010: 2 Timothy 3:10-4:8
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“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.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17
I grew up in a Christian home, but when I started making my faith my own during my high school years, I actually hid from my parents that I was reading the Bible; I didn’t want to be “caught” reading the Bible. That sounds so silly to me now, but I didn’t like them making a big deal out of some things, and I thought they might. A little later in college, I became involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and was discipled by a godly woman a few years older than me, and I learned about having “quiet times,” and I’m not referring to naps! In my naiveté, I just imagined all the Christians in my family taking an hour with the Lord each day, and how well they must’ve been hiding it. I wanted to get in on it, so I jumped right in.
I’m so glad I did! What an abundant blessing the Lord has given us in His Word! The entire Bible is inspired by God Himself, and it is the most direct way He has revealed Himself to us, after Jesus Christ. It is Truth; it is our gold standard to test everything else that claims to be true. It is living and active (Heb. 4:12), and God wants to change us through it and transform us into His image. The Word of God is my daily bread. It teaches me, it corrects and rebukes me, it trains me, but most of all, I get to know my Lord and Savior through the Scriptures. How truly awesome that the Lord of the universe, the Creator of all things, wants to spend time with me in prayer and in His Word! Second Peter tells us “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness,” (1:3). Through knowing Him, we have all we need for life and godliness. We know Him through His Word. What a privilege it is to spend time with the Lord in His Word!
Last year before the twins were born, my biggest fear was not having the time and energy to have my regular quiet time, which has been a part of my daily life since I was a freshman in college (so quite a while!). But I learned something that I can say with confidence now that I have 4 children, including two babies . . . you always have time for what is most important to you.
Lord, thank You so much that I can freely own and study Your Word in this country. O Lord, help me to faithfully study the Scriptures, and as I do, reveal Yourself to me and transform me more and more into Your image.
Devotion prepared by Diane Kelley