In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible reads, “All Scripture is breathed out by God & profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, & for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The Bible is unlike any other book because it is the word of Almighty God. A.W. Tozer wrote, “The purpose of the Bible is to bring men to Christ, to make them holy & prepare them for heaven. In this, it is unique among books, & it always fulfills its purpose.” We must understand that the instrument of our sanctification is the Bible. The Holy Spirit brings to our minds the precepts & doctrines of truth & we must apply them. The truth is our sanctifier
(John 17:17). If we do not hear or read it, we will not grow in sanctification. For this reason, we ought to be certain that the Bible is the word of God. Either it is or it isn’t, & either all of it is the word of God, or we never can be sure of any of it. It is either absolute or obsolete. If we have to start changing this verse, toning down that, apologizing for this & making allowances for that, we might as well give up, so we must take it as it is or leave it alone. George Mueller observed, “The vigor of our spiritual lives will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our lives & in our thoughts.” As Christians, we are called upon to study God’s holy word & then to share it with the world. The Bible is a remarkable commentary on perspective. Through its divine message, we are brought face to face with issues & tests in daily living & how we are enabled to respond positively to them. The Bible is a priceless gift, a tool for Christians to use as we share the gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, too many Christians keep their spiritual tool kits tightly closed & out of sight. Jonathan Edwards suggested, “Be assiduous in reading the Holy Scriptures. This is the foundation whence all knowledge in divinity must be derived. Therefore, let not this treasure lie by you neglected.” God’s book, the Bible, is indeed a priceless, one of a kind treasure. Handle it with care, but handle it every day.
- Antoine N. Holloway
