If someone were to ask you, “What set of standards or rules do you live by?” What would be your answer? Would you answer that you live by the Bible, or some other book, or would you state that you live by your own set of rules? And if you are a child of God, can it truly be said that you live by the Word of God [the Bible]?
In Deuteronomy 6:17-18 the Lord commanded,
“Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,”
However, throughout the history of mankind, man has often demonstrated a disregard and even a disdain for the Word of God. In fact, 2 Kings 17:15 reveals the heart of many men/women. For it states,
“And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.”
Romans 1:21-22 states,
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
Ephesians 4:17-18 states,
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
As a Christian, before you reject the above statements outright, let us consider the following questions: 1) If you state that the Bible is your rule of faith and practice, when was the last time that you opened it and read its words? 2) The last time that you had to deal with a conflict, did you resolve it according to Scriptures – or did you resolve it according to your own wisdom? 3) The last time that you did read the Bible and it exposed sin in your life, did you follow the instructions in 1 John 1:9? [1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”] 4) The last time that the Word of God and the Spirit of God pressed upon your heart a need to live a more committed life of service unto the Lord, did you obey the calling?
Let us all understand that God’s Word was given to us for our profit – yet many receive little value from it because they choose to disregard it. Paul told Timothy that the Word of God makes one wise unto salvation – and then it teaches that newly saved person how to live a life that is pleasing unto our Heavenly Father.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 states,
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
1 Peter 3:15 instructs,
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
If we are going to claim that the Bible is truly our rule of faith and practice, shouldn’t we open it, read its words, pray about what we have read, meditate upon it, apply it to our lives, and then live by it? For, to keep it on the shelf or in the drawer provides no guidance, no conviction, no correction, nor direction for our lives. Why not open it today, allow God to speak to your heart through His Word, and come to know His standards that we are to live by?
