Daily - 4/24/08

The Bible has quite a bit to say about itself. Here are a few examples:

Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12: Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Isaiah 40:7-8: The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. (So then, the people is the grass.) Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever."

Isaiah 55:10-11: For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down, And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Many of us remember that Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation with Scripture. But also note that Satan himself used Scripture:

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.

3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread."

4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you and 'with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

7 Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"

8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,

9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."

10 At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.'"

11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

We’ve been given a tool that is alive and is extremely powerful – causing effects in those that receive it. It does not return void, it separates bone and marrow, soul and spirit. The tool is so powerful that Satan tried to use it against Christ himself! To me, the message in all of this is clear – we are called to be familiar with the Word of God, and call upon it in our daily lives.