Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. -Proverbs 30:5
For the follower of Jesus Christ, the Bible is required reading. We cannot walk in the fullness of Christ apart from the Bible. We seek to grow in God’s Word because it is applicable to all of us in every situation we face. When we know what the Bible says, and we believe it with all our hearts, then we have the basis for sharing the message of the Gospel with others. It also provides us with integrity in our message. We cannot speak with authority on that which we know nothing about. I love John Grisham’s books, and I have read most of them. Wouldn’t it seem strange, however, if I said that I loved John Grisham’s books but had never read one of them? I would have no authority to speak on the subject. When we are growing and maturing in God’s Word, we are given the authority to speak of and to confront spiritual matters of the faith.
I have long believed that it is a positive benefit to prisoners that they are provided with Bibles in their jail cells. I hope this practice will continue. However, I am confident that if I were locked away without the Word of God, that He would still speak to me in my heart. Even in the darkness of the dungeon or the jail cell, the Word of God will illuminate our path and give light to our way. This is what God did with the righteous people of ancient times. We can know with all certainty that at just the right time, when mankind was ready to receive it, God began to reveal His will to humanity. Those who sought Him were shown the truth by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Remember that we have the blessed benefit of the written Word. It will light our path as we study and let it speak to our hearts. A young man keeps his way pure by living according to God’s Word. The follower of Christ who desires a deeper faith and a mature Christian life will do likewise. To reject God and His plan of salvation is to be like the fool spoken of in the scripture:
The fool says in his heart, there is no God. (Psalms 14:1)
Those who have opened their hearts to the truth know better. We know that God is real, that He loves us, and that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins.
Grow in the Word of God. Grow into a mature follower of Christ who is walking in faith, victory, and a sure step that will not falter.
Take the Bible down from the shelf. Gently brush the dust from it. Open it, and begin to let its divine and wonderful truths speak to your heart.
The world has long been searching for answers. We can find them in God’s Word.
From, Get up and Grow: Becoming a Mature Christian, by Dan Birchfield
