Treasured Truth

As we continue studying the benefits of the book, here’s the question we should be asking ourselves—Are we walking in God’s Word?  If we believe what God has said, then we’ll be walking in it.  We should be applying the truth and wisdom found in the scriptures to our lives daily.

Scripture is profitable for doctrine—that’s what’s right.  For correction—that’s understanding what’s not right.  For reproof—that’s how to get right.  And for instruction in righteousness—that’s how to stay right.  So the Bible has been given to us, so that we can know what’s right, do what’s right and stay right.

What’s the first benefit of daily reading of the Bible?  We learn to fear God.  We learn about Him, and Who He is.  We become enlightened by the person of God, inspired by the presence of God, and energized by the power of God when we’re feasting on His Word daily.

Have you ever been in a time when you felt like, you weren’t living right, and so you didn’t want to pray? You thought to yourself, “I don’t want to talk to God, because I know I’m not living right.”  But Psalm 103:13 says, “Like a father pities His children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him.”  So, the question is really not are you living wrong, the question is do you fear Him?

As believers, sometimes God places us in a storm, to show us that He’s still in control.  So even when we’re obeying God, we can suffer and we can encounter opposition, because God has some ultimate purposes, which are to teach us to trust Him and to show Himself as sovereign.

There’s no “new and improved” when it comes to the Word of God.  Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God endures forever.” God has already established all the ground rules for us in His Word.  So, we shouldn’t come along trying to make up new ground rules for our lives, because He’s already done it for us!  

Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” Pastor Ford points out that this means Jesus’ growth was prioritized.  In other words, His mental growth took precedent over the physical and His spiritual growth took precedent over the social.

As we consider the scripture passage in Luke 2, which gives a brief description of Jesus’ growing up years, we’ll see that He grew in 4 specific areas:  mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.  And we’ll continue to learn how this is not only a description of His growth, but also a prescription for how we can grow.

When we look at Luke 2:52, we should realize that it is not just a declaration about Jesus, it’s about the reputation of Jesus.  Pastor Ford says we need to understand that the fourteen words contained in that verse are not just a description of Jesus’ life, but they’re a prescription for our lives.

Following Jesus’ example of intercessory prayer for us, when we’re praying for God to care for others, we also ought to be praying about their comprehension of God.  While we are interceding for their preservation and provision, we also need to be interceding and praying for the truth about God to be revealed to them.