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Because I Believe
Do you believe that the Bible has a Divine, Supernatural origin, as opposed to a
derivation that is merely human? Peter did: “for no prophecy was ever made by an
act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter
1:20).
If this is so, what practical impact should it have upon my life? James 2:14-16
teaches that believing something to be so is one thing, demonstrating that
belief by what we do is quite another. In other words, we must prove our faith.
So how do I prove to myself and others that I believe the Bible is the word of
God? Let me suggest just three of many ways I can demonstrate my confidence in
God’s word.
Because I believe in the Divine source of the
Bible…
I will teach it to others “So, for my part, I am
eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of
the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:15-16). Since it claims to be
God’s power to save sinners, all sinners I know should be exposed to its
teaching, and who is better to do that than you.
I will look to it first as the solution to my problems,
the answer to my questions “All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good
work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Do you want to know how to engage in the good work of
raising children? Do you need training in the righteous undertaking of being the
very best husband or wife you can be? Why not look first to biblical
instructions? We’re assured it equips us adequately for these, and all other,
worthy endeavors. Unfortunately, many today are characterized by the ignorance
of those in Hosea’s day: “Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My
law, They are regarded as a strange thing” (Hosea 8:12).
I will apply it as I need to “For if anyone is a
hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural
face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has
immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at
the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a
forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he
does” (James. 1:23-25). None of us likes what we see in the mirror when we arise
in the morning. Our hair and face need some attention. We look in the mirror to
see what needs correction. It is foolish to look in the mirror but then walk
away and do nothing about the mess we’ve just looked at. Do you get the point?
Why look in to (read) the mirror (God’s word) and, having seen (learned) what
needs corrected, walk away and do nothing about it?
The Bible was not intended to be an impressive coffee table item. It is either
“a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105) or it is nothing at
all. Let’s use the Bible in the way God intended that it be used and receive the
bountiful blessings that follow.
By David Smitherman
From
Expository Files 12.7; July 2005
