II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (ESV)
How do you view the Bible? How does it shape they way you live?
If you are like me you probably have ten or more Bibles in your house and have read through most of the Bible many different times. You know the layout of the Bible, the stories of the Bible, and the facts presented in it. You believe godly men penned the Bible, and you know God helped them write it. Yet knowing the contents and background of the Bible are very different than letting it shape your heart, your thoughts, and your actions.
II Timothy 3:16-17 inspires me to more deeply treasure the Word of God. It is very words of God. He truly inspired the 40 different men who wrote various books of the Bible. He placed the words into their minds as they sat down to write or dictate the pages of the Holy Scripture. When I view my Bible as “breathed out by God,” I approach it with reverent awe, expectancy, and humility.
The Word of God has a purpose for our lives – teaching, reproving, correcting, and training in righteousness. It isn’t a quaint book for decorating a bookshelf or coffee table. It is a guidebook for the Christian life. It navigates our motives and speaks to our hearts. It describes the world we live in and the temptations we will face. It outlines the laws of God, which protect us and hem us in. It describes our triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And in all of this, it teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, and trains us, making us more like Christ.
For what purpose? The verse ends by describing the man of God who is “competent, equipped for every good work.” The NIV version states it this way, “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God has a calling for each of us. The Word of God makes us competent and thoroughly equipped for the calling.
How can you let the Word of God equip you today?
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Growing Up Christian urges teens, who are growing up in the church, to develop a faith and a walk of their own. It aims to help teens appreciate the blessings of growing up in a Christian environment and navigate some of the unique dangers they face.
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About the Author - Karl Graustein
Hi, my name is Karl Graustein. I serve as a Principal at Annapolis Area Christian School in Severn, Maryland. In 1993, I graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in Mathematics, and in 1997, I graduated from Regent University with a M.A. in Educational Leadership. In 2000, I married my wonderful wife, Jennifer, and since then God has given us three great children. It was a privilege to work with Mark Jacobsen to write Growing Up Christian. Mark is a graduate of the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a pilot and a writer.
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