Bible Devotions for Living

All training programs come with a time of book learning and God’s training program for you is no different. He has provided you with His Word, the Bible (1 Thes 2:13), as your life training Book. It has everything you need for life:

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

The Bible teaches you everything you need for life. It trains you how to be holy and live right (2 Tim 3:16; Ps 119:9), builds your faith (Rom 10:17), makes you wise (Ps 19:7-8; 119:97-100); gives you understanding (Pv 2:6; Ps 119:99-100); guides and helps you see clearly (Ps 19:7-11; 119:105); warns you (Ps 19:7-11); helps you to be fruitful (Ps 1:1-4; Josh 1:8); trains you so you are not easily deceived (Mk 12:24); and shows you how to combat and refute the devil’s attacks (Mt 3:3-11) to name a few things.

The Bible also teaches you about God to know His character, how He thinks, His likes and dislikes, etc. But the Bible doesn’t stop there as an instruction Book. God’s Word goes a step further and provides you with the example of God living here perfectly through the life of Jesus (God the Son (Jn 14:9; Heb 1:1-3)). Lastly, the Bible tells you to imitate Jesus’ perfect example (Eph 5:1). So, the Bible gives you a roadmap to life – instruction, example of Christ, and directive to imitate Him.

Since the Bible is a life training Book, you need to read and study it every day. You need to consume it to be changed by reading it, studying it, thinking about it, and remembering it. It is a training manual for life with a lot to teach you. Just like a complicated training manual or book, you cannot just read it once and learn all it has to say. You need to read, re-read, study, and digest it until you know it. It is a key part of your growth and training as a believer.

Just like your teacher in school expects you to read your assignment to be prepared, God expects you to read and know His Word:

… haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God … (Mt 22:31)

Haven’t you read this Scripture … (Mk 12:10)

But, just like the schoolteacher, He is not going to force you to read and study. If you don’t read and study it, don’t be surprised when you don’t learn how to pass the tests of life and get through its trials.

Summary

• The Bible is God’s Word (1 Thes 2:13)
• The Bible is God’s life training manual for you (2 Tim 3:16-17)
• The Bible shows you how to live through following Jesus’ example
• everything you need for life and is your training manual for life (2 Tim 3:16-17)
• You must learn God’s Word through reading, studying, thinking about, and remembering it.
• God expects you to know His Word (Mt 22:31; Mk 12:10, Mk 11:17, Jn 10:34, Mk 12:26)

Jesus told them, “Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mk 12:24)