• Returning To The Word

    By: Kristen L. McNulty



    Let's do a little test. Right here and right now. I'm going to read a few statements and I want you to recognize which ones are in the Bible and which ones are not. Okay? So here we go:

    1. God works in mysterious ways
    2. God helps those who help
    themselves
    3. Cleanliness is next to Godliness

    Would it surprise you to know that not one of these things are written in God's Word? Isn't it easy to confuse what sounds like good thoughts with what is absolute truth? It can happen and it is a very dangerous road to go down. Because of God's Word is meant to be the foundation for our beliefs and our lives if we build on anything else, no matter how good it sounds or how well-intentioned we might be, that foundation is going to crumble and when it comes crashing down so will everything else in our lives.

    So with all kinds of confusing messages around us, in what we read, in what we hear, in what we're exposed to, how do we determine what is truth and what is not? There's only one way and that way is completely saturating ourselves with the Bible. That is the key to not only growing in our faith and living right, but also in knowing the truth inside and out.

    As Christians its easy to lose sight of this because when we listen to Christian music and read Christian books and magazines and listen to Christian preachers we can fool ourselves into thinking that is a substitute for the Word of God. But it's not. It might be an extra course for the soul to feed on, but nothing can replace the nutrients and sustaining value that is found in God's own Word.

    Just like we as humans were not designed to only eat sponge cake, we as Christians are designed to need the Bible to grow in our faith, recognize the lies that satan whispers and deepen our relationship with Christ. Nothing else will do.

    So let's pick up our Bibles and turn to it as the only source of Truth in our lives. Let's know the Word inside and out so that when we hear a lie we can recognize it in the same heartbeat. Let's be Christians who are so consumed with God and the Love Letter He's left us with that people can see just from glancing in our direction that there's something marvelously different about us.

    Let me close by reading from 2 Timothy:

    "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

    Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.

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