April 30

Three Thoughts

The same power that brought you to life is still at work in you every time you open your Bible, breathing new life into you, shaping you in ways that you can't shape yourself. When you become a believer, we call it being born again. It's nothing you can do yourself, it's all through the power of God's Word.

1 PETER 1:23

When we approach Scripture, we need to do so as a student instead of a cynic. Even if we think we know all of the answers, we don't. So we need to open each page with humility and understand that the Word has the power to save us. But first, we have to let it in.

JAMES 1:21

Spiritual maturity is something that comes with time and patience and practice, training ourselves to discern good from evil. And that's done by building a daily discipline of spending time in Scripture. Solid food is for the mature. So if your faith feels shallow, the answer isn't more content, it's deeper roots in God's Word.

HEBREWS 5:14

Two Quotes

Theologian John Calvin on reverence of the Word:

"We owe to Scripture the same reverence which we owe to God."

Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll on the purpose of Scripture:

"The Bible is God's chart for you to steer by, to keep you from the bottom of the sea, and to show you where the harbor is."

Prayer

Dear God, it was your Word that gave me life. Now I ask you to let it continue shaping me from the inside out. I don't just want to know more about you, I want to be changed by you. Give me humility as I open it each day, even when it challenges me. Help me to grow in spiritual maturity, one day at a time, one verse at a time. Amen.

Question

Are you opening the Bible to confirm what you already believe? Or to let God show you something new?

See you next Thursday,
Zach

P.S. How can I be praying for you this week?