THE CHRISTIAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SCRIPTURES
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Morning Meditation 5/14/2014
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
We hold the Scriptures to be the Word of God. We believe Scriptures are without error and stand as our infallible guide in all things. There are several things we should do in relation to it.
WE SHOULD RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD WITH ALL MEEKNESS
James 1:21, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
1. James says there are some things that the believer in the Word are to lay aside. The words "lay apart" translate "apotithemi" and means, "to set aside out of mind and out of reach in a permanent action" (aorist tense). This you must do for yourself and for your own benefit (middle voice) where the subject acts in his own behalf.
2. The words "superfluity of naughtiness" means, "malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure." When one becomes a Christian he gives up the right to retaliate and must leave the judgment to Him.
3. We should receive the engrafted word with all meekness. To do this we should receive it as servants, for it is the voice of the Master. Receive it as saints, to cleanse from all defilement; receive it as subjects, for the command is from the king; receive it as soldiers to equip for the warfare with evil. Receive it as sons, for it is the Father's will; receive it as surrendered ones, for it is the Father's will.
WE SHOULD KEEP THE WORD TENACIOUSLY
We will be challenged to depart from the true meaning and the letter of the Word. If Satan can lead us astray concerning the practice of the word, he has won a great victory and we have lost our reward. Salvation is a gift but we have to be careful to maintain good works to receive a reward when our works are judged at the Judgment seat of Christ. 2 John 1:7-8, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." Those who go away from the Word of God will have to leave me behind. I believe that the Bible is as applicable today as it was when it was first given.
WE SHOULD LET THE WORD OF GOD DWELL IN US RICHLY
When Jesus went in the mount to be tempted, with each temptation that Satan made Jesus responded with Matthew 4:1-4, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
We need to let it dwell in our heart, as a preservation from evil. We need to let it dwell in our heart as a propeller in service. We need to let it dwell in our heart as the plan for direction. We need to let it dwell in our heart as the power for conflicts.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE WORD OF GOD BELIEVINGLY
John 8:31, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"
The Word of God is our verbal connection with our Living Lord. It is not a shallow faith but a life changing faith that lays hold on salvation. Jesus was very straight with these believers. He said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN GOD'S WORD UNTIRINGLY
Preachers should be known as "Men of the Book." This will result in "people of the Book where they minister. There can be no strong church that is not pastored by one who continues in the Word untiringly. Continuance in the Book is the manifest evidence that we are the true followers of Christ.
WE NEED TO LIVE OUT THE WORD FAITHFULLY
2 Corinthians 3:3, "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." Christians should be walking Bibles. We are God's epistles to those around us. A man's life can be read by what he says and what he does.
WE NEED TO MUSE ON THE WORD OF GOD PRAYERFULLY
Prayer is the main link with the Lord. The Bible is the main message we get back from God. We should hold the Scriptures as holy and muse on the teachings as our daily bread.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
