2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17-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 complete, equipped for every good work.”

Before we read on, if you can, find your Bible. Grab it with both hands. Stare at it. Flip through its pages. Close it, hold it near your heart. Then look to heaven and thank God with loud sounds of praise for His Word that He has preserved for all time and given to us in our generation. Our Lord Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Words will not pass away”(Luke 21:33). But not only do we read of the indestructibility of God’s Word, but the Psalmist David tells us of the many powerful qualities in His Word. Meditate slowly on each of these lines – The law(Word) of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward(Psalm 19:7-11).

Now, let’s do something similar to the opening exercise in today’s nugget, but only if it applies to us. Find your Bible. Grab it with both hands. Stare at it. Flip through its pages. Close it, hold it near our heart. Then look to heaven and with confession, repentance, and sorrow ask God to forgive us for the too many times we neglected His Word. Seek forgiveness for the times we could have been in His Word but we chose earthly pleasures and comforts instead. Seek forgiveness for taking it for granted that He has placed in our churches where the Bible is center; the compass steering all ministries and activities. Seek forgiveness for not being thankful for God’s Word and the many martyrs who have died to preserve it for us.

God’s glorious Word. He spoke creation into being by it and He grants spiritual new birth through it–Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God(1 Peter 1:22-23)

So, the next time we pick up our Bibles, let’s pause and think about what we are holding; apart from salvation, it is the greatest treasure God gave us.

PRAYER: “Father, thank You that Your Word is trustworthy and able to save and keep me near You now and forever.”

QUOTE: “The Word of the Lord is His means to reveal to us the Lord of the Word. To neglect it is to neglect the Lord.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim