2 Peter 1:19-21 (NIV)

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Explanation:

Christ is the morning star, and when He returns, He will shine in His full glory. Until that day, we have scripture as a light, and the Holy Spirit to illuminate scripture for us and guide us as we seek the truth. “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” means that scripture did not come from the creative work of the prophets’ own invention or interpretation. God inspired the writers so their message is authentic and reliable. God used the talents, education, and cultural background of each writer, and God cooperated with the writers in such a way to ensure that the message He intended was faithfully communicated in the very words they wrote.

Application:

1. Do you seek truth for your life OR do you seek justification for your life? It is so easy to want support instead of illumination. Many times, the Holy Spirit through the Word will illustrate a different approach than what we want to take. Only you can decide if you want God’s way or your way.

2. Isolate one struggle you are having. Let’s say your struggle is trusting God. Use technology and Google scriptures on trusting God. I did this as a test, and ten sites with lists of applicable scripture on that subject came up. Do this with your struggle word. Then begin to read the exact scriptures that address your issue, and experience the insight and power you will receive through the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

Prayer Prompt:

• Pray…

My Father in Heaven (who is above all and sees all), may your name be honored!

May your kingdom (the way things are done in heaven and the way described in the Word) come on earth as it is in heaven (in my life).

Give me my daily bread (exactly what I need for today found in scripture).

Forgive my sins, just like I have forgiven those who have sinned against me.

Lead me away from temptation and protect me from satan’s ideas for my life.

(My paraphrase of Matthew 6:9-13)

This is scripture AND it is the way Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Praying scripture is a win-win!

Not only are you conversing with God, you are taking into your heart the written Word of God.

Devo Plus:

• 2 Peter 1:3-11

Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV)

The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

Explanation:

In this passage, we learn more about the Word of God and all it has to offer us. God’s Word is perfect, without flaws, and because of that we can trust it. It is pure, without blemish. His Word gives us strength in moments of weakness, reminding us of His promises and goodness. It gives us wisdom when we aren’t sure which direction to go next. His Word brings forth conviction, and helps us to stay on the path toward Him. We know His Word is always right, so we can depend on it to give us hope and life. The Word of God will continue to be true, to be right, to be a guide throughout our lives. It is unchanging, but can speak so much light and life to us.

Our response to the Word of God should be to constantly thirst for it. As we read it, we learn, we grow, we change, and we become more and more like Jesus. God’s Word will revive our souls and give us what we need. We simply need to seek, read, and discover what He wants to teach us daily.

Application:

1. Does this passage help you understand more about God's Word and what it can do for your life?

2. How have you experienced God speaking to you through His Word?

3. What do you need to add or change this week to spend more time reading and studying God’s Word?

Prayer Prompts:

• Ask God to give you a hunger and thirst for His Word.

• Ask Him to show you how to connect with Him more deeply through His Word.

Devo Plus:

• Proverbs 4:5

• Proverbs 30:5

2 Timothy 3: 14-17 (ESV)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Explanation:

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy as Paul was preparing to be executed for being a Christian and teaching about Jesus. He was encouraging Timothy to stand strong in the Old Testament scriptures that Timothy’s mother and grandmother (mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:5) had raised him to believe. Paul wanted him to put his confidence in the scripture and to preach it to everyone.

Paul emphasized that all scripture was given by the inspiration of God, or “God breathed.” The words God gave to the writers of the Bible were sometimes exact (see Jeremiah 1:9), but in many cases, He allowed the writers to use their own minds, vocabularies, and experiences to communicate what God wanted to be said. Scripture is called the “oracles of God,” a message from the highest authority over all of heaven and earth, and it cannot be altered.

Scripture is the complete truth that we need as a guide for life and living a godly life. It exposes sin as death, and tells us how we can correct our path by confessing our sins and submitting to God as the ultimate authority in our lives. It tells us how we can get back to godly living, and provides us instruction on how we should act so we are set apart from others in the world. The Bible truly is the human’s “owner’s manual” given by our Maker, Creator, Judge, Father, and God!

Application:

1. When you read the Bible, do you think of it as a way to guide your life today? Is it just a “history lesson” to you, or do you apply it to your life as God intended it to be?

2. Paul reminded Timothy to remember his “roots,” as taught by his mother and grandmother. Do you think Timothy would have been able to be Paul’s friend and confidant without this background?

Prayer Prompts:

• God gave us the scriptures so we could be “fully equipped” to do His work. Ask God to help you use your “tool belt” to share His love with others.

• Do you use the “User Guide” that God has given you, or do you try to make it through life without “following directions?” Ask God to help you rely on His word to help guide you.

Devo Plus:

• Want to dive deeper? Psalm 119 outlines principles for our faith, and the many blessings that come with following God’s commandments.

Psalm 119:9-16 (NLT)

9 How can a young person stay pure?

By obeying your word.

10 I have tried hard to find you—

don’t let me wander from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

12 I praise you, O Lord;

teach me your decrees.

13 I have recited aloud

all the regulations you have given us.

14 I have rejoiced in your laws

as much as in riches.

15 I will study your commandments

and reflect on your ways.

16 I will delight in your decrees

and not forget your word.

Explanation:

The Word of God has three inherent virtues as it is applied:

1. A cleansing effect (119:9) by obeying the Word

2. A controlling effect (119:10) by pursuing God with our whole heart

3. A correcting effect (119:11-12)

This psalm also addresses the value of the Word of God:

1. We must proclaim it! (119:13)

2. It requires diligence (119:13)

3. It is priceless (119:14)

4. It is practical (119:15)

5. It brings delight to our lives (119:16)

Application:

1. The Word of God can bring power to our lives only if we absorb it, meditate on it, and memorize it. Vitamins do our bodies no good if they are never swallowed. Food does our bodies no good if it remains in the refrigerator instead of our stomachs.

2. Verse 11 specifically proclaims that a powerful way to fight sin is to memorize scripture!

Prayer Prompt:

Memorize these verses, to have them hidden in your heart.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

Author: Stacey Crawford

One of the things I love about our church is that our children are memorizing scripture from a young age. Every Sunday, I get the opportunity to hear the Bible verse my daughter is learning in the preschool room, but also the stories. I love hearing her perspective and what she is learning about God at such a young age. Earlier this year, as she was trying to explain a story, I realized it was one I had never heard. I didn’t know how to help her remember the story, because I had no recognition of it myself. God really opened my eyes to a few things in that moment. The first was that I tend to stick more with reading the New Testament. I am drawn to the person of Jesus and love to read more about Him. The second thing God sort of called me out on was I had become lazy in my reading of His Word, so it was time to take my devotional life deeper.

I have to be honest…I was a little hesitant to start because I had struggled before to understand these stories and writings. It was often confusing, and honestly, boring at times to read. But I asked God to search my heart and give me a new perspective, to help me take something away from each of these stories and words I was reading. One of the things I decided would help was to read a different translation of the Bible than I had before. That alone has helped tremendously. If I don’t understand something, I look through commentaries and other versions to help me better understand what I am reading.

It has been a completely different experience for me now. I look forward to my alone time with God every day. I can’t wait to read more about His people and about Him. It no longer feels like a chore, but something I am enjoying. If I miss out on that time for some reason, I get upset, because it is something I have a great desire and excitement to do now. And God has been so faithful. Every single day, God has taught me something, either about myself, His people, or Him. The stories have almost come alive to me for the first time in my life, and now I am keeping these stories as reminders of God’s faithfulness and promises.

One thing I know is that the more we know the Word of God, the greater our faith increases. Reading the stories of His people is a daily reminder to me of His faithfulness, that He has always kept His promises and I can trust the work He is doing in my life. God longs for us to experience more of who He is through His Word. It’s not always easy. Sometimes it is frustrating, but find a rhythm that works for you and I promise God will be faithful. Come with an open heart ready to learn, and I am confident God will meet you there and speak to you through His Word.

Prayer Prompt:

• Ask God to open your eyes and help you understand His Word. Ask Him to seek your heart and to help you have a love and deeper understanding for His Word. Ask Him to open your eyes to the things He wants to teach you through the stories of His people.

Psalm 119:103-104 (ESV)

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way.

Explanation:

The Word of God is unlike any other word that can be read, heard, or spoken. The psalmist (the writer of this psalm) had discovered there was something unique about the power of God’s Word that could satisfy something in him nothing else could. Our ability to taste, appreciate, and enjoy food, although good, can only provide us with a physical satisfaction. We are much more complex creatures who need more than simply physical satisfaction to survive. It’s true, in addition to physical needs, we do have a number of other needs, and the most important of these needs is our spiritual need. In today’s reading, the psalmist expresses to God that His Word is so deeply satisfying, even more so than honey, which must have been quite a delicacy to him. Why is it so sweet to him?

The psalmist found that through God’s precepts (teachings), he gained understanding, and not just any understanding but the very understanding of God. The understanding of God provided the writer with a much more panoramic view of life. Unlike his teachers, enemies, or even the wisest of the elderly, all who speculated about the best way to live, the writer lived with a confident assurance that what God spoke to him was surely the best way to live. Living outside of what God has authored is a “false way” of living. The psalmist had grown deeply in love with God’s Word, and how much it made his life better. He made it his central focus every day, and vowed never to turn away from pursuing it. Its sweetness satisfied him that much.

Questions:

1. Describe a time when God’s Word has satisfied you “sweeter than honey.”

2. How does God’s understanding differ from the world’s understanding?

3. How can God’s Word help you to live life better?

4. What would need to happen in your life to get to a place where God’s Word consistently becomes more appealing than even the “sweetest” things the world can offer?

Prayer Prompt:

• God, Your Word tells us to taste and see that You are good. We know You are good, and Your Word is essential for us, but we pray that You will give us a deeper craving for it in our hearts. Would You show us how much better Your understanding is, and why life is better when we live according to Your Word? Thank You for loving us and giving us Your Word.

Devo Plus:

• Read Psalm 19:7-11. For each verse, come up with a personal example of how this plays out in your life. For example: The perfect law revives me by showing me that God has made a way to connect with Him.

Luke 24:13-27 (ESV)

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Explanation:

When Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the way to Emmaus, two things stand out. One, they did not recognize Him. His resurrected body must have been different enough that He was not quickly recognized. Second, and more importantly, is how Jesus revealed Himself to them. He took them through the scriptures, showing them how they were speaking of all that had happened to Him. He was essentially giving them proof that the Messiah was to suffer and die and then be raised again, and that He was the Messiah.

All of Jewish scripture spoke of Him (Moses - The Law - Torah, the Prophets - Nevi’im, and the Writings - Ketuvim. Our Old Testament). All of it pointed to Him. And all of the writings that would come after (what we call the New Testament) also point to Him. God’s Word, also known as the scriptures and the Bible, was written to point our hearts to God, so we could know Him, know how to relate to Him, and know how He wants us to relate with each other. All of His Word points us to those very things, and all of His Word points us to the ultimate revelation of God…Jesus Christ, His Son.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stands out to you in today’s reading?

2. What is one thing you have learned about God by reading the scripture?

3. What is one thing in your life that has changed because you learned something from the Bible?

Prayer Prompts:

• Ask God to help you have a love for reading His Word.

• Ask God to help you see Him in it.

• Take time and thank God today that He told us about Himself and His Son through the words of the Bible.

Devo Plus:

• Read Isaiah 53 and see how the prophets spoke of the Messiah.

John 5:36-40 (ESV)

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Explanation:

God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. Through early Jewish oral traditions, and then into the written biblical narrative, God has shown Himself to a people and walked in relationship with them. God moved the hearts of certain members of the Jewish community to record what they experienced. Along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s acts and His words were written down to be passed along and remembered from generation to generation.

It is these writings that Jesus speaks of in today’s passage. And Jesus wants to make something very clear. These writings were talking about Him. All the law, writings, and prophets looked forward to Jesus. They pointed toward Him as Messiah. The people who followed God in these stories looked toward the day when Jesus would come. And now that He was there…His own people were missing it.

God gave the scriptures to show us who He is. He also showed us who He is in the person of Jesus. It doesn’t matter how knowledgeable we are of the Bible. If we miss that it points us to a relationship with Jesus and living like Him, we miss the point.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stands out to you in today’s scripture?

2. How does knowing that the entire Bible points to Jesus change how you read the Jewish scriptures (what we refer to as the Old Testament)?

3. What is one challenge you have with reading the Bible?

4. What is one step you can take to grow in your understanding of the Bible?

Prayer Prompts:

• Ask God to give you a desire to read His Word.

• Ask God to help you see how all of the Bible points to Jesus.

• Ask God to help you understand His Word.

Devo Plus:

• Read Genesis 12:1-3, John 10:16, Matthew 28:18-20, and Romans 3:29. Watch the thread of God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled in Jesus.