CALLED TO LIVE BY THE BOOK

The Bible is the guidebook and the ‘constitution’ of every Christian. We are called to live by the BOOK! Whatever the LORD had written down for us, is done so for us to live by it. The Psalm  119:103-105 speaks to us, about the significance of the Word of God – “103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.”

The entire Psalm 119, in fact, is an explanation about the excellencies of the Word of God. Therefore, it is good for us to read the Bible more than anything else, in our life. 
“97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.” – Psalms 119:97-100

Today, it is even more imperative to hold on to the Bible, as it was handed down to us. There are efforts to dilute it, and run it down the drain…not by someone who stands against the Word of God. The danger is much closer, and more subtle than one can imagine. Consider this news item from The Guardian, a British newspaper, on 7 July 2023 – “Lord’s Prayer opening may be ‘problematic’, says archbishop. Archbishop of York tells General Synod that ‘Our Father’ has patriarchal connotations” Not an uplifting stand by someone who is to uphold the integrity of the whole Scriptures.

An article by Mark Jennings, on 29 August 2022, says this about the split in the Anglican Church – “Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON), the association supporting the breakaway denomination, claim Anglican bishops “were unable to uphold the Bible’s ancient teaching on marriage and sexual ethics”, making their defection necessary.”

What a tragedy it is, that we have begun to reinterpret what was given to us by the LORD Himself…
“14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:14-17

May the LORD help us, in these last days, where deception is the weapon, just like the fake news. The truth is getting blurred by the day, and the lies are becoming more and more believable. At such times as these, let us turn to the Bible, as instructed by the reformers of old – “Sola Scriptura.”