We received a couple of showers of rain Sunday. It was not a large amount, but it was appreciated. Our prayers go up in behalf of those areas that experienced severe weather yesterday.
I had my regularly scheduled visit to the dental hygienist last week. At the end of our time she asked if I had a Water Pik. I admitted I did, and she said it would help to use it. I the asked her, “Oh, it doesn’t help to just have it sitting on the back of the sink?” Her reply– “No, not really.”
I’m reminded of some other beneficial tools in our house: The exercise equipment that no one uses, and other tools purchased with good intentions, still in their original packaging.
Here is a follow-up thought. What one item of great benefit to every person, is probably present in almost every home, yet is seldom used? Might it be the Bible? Just like the tools for healthy living mentioned above, the one tool we have available to us for improving our spiritual health is rarely put to its intended use.
If you have followed my thoughts for a period of time, you know I place much emphasis on reading and studying God’s Word. In a world that is becoming more antagonistic to the Christian faith, I believe it is imperative that we become people of the Word; that we must study the scriptures in order to know how to answer those who challenge our beliefs.
Here are a few verses in which we are encouraged, if not commanded to study our Bibles: 2 Timothy 2:15…”Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.”
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:16-17).
A final word concerning the need for Bible study. Do not take for granted everything some preacher says. Follow the example of the residents of a place called Berea. When the apostle Paul preached to them, the Bible says, “They welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
In His Truth,
Pastor Jerry
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