Several years ago, a movie came out starring Gavin McCloud. For those of you that remember the series Love Boat, he was the captain of the cruise ship. I always liked him and wanted to watch the movie so I purchased it. The story line was of a couple of individuals one of which was not a believer. McCloud played the role of the man instrumental in delivering the message of Jesus Christ.
At one point in the movie, an actor was quoting 2 Timothy 3:16. When I heard the verse, it went something like this "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, changing and training..." While I don't remember exactly how they quoted I do remember my response. I said "The scripture does not say that." It does not say teaching, rebuking, changing and training....it says teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.
The movie immediately lost credibility with me but I wondered how many would walk away believing that scripture was correct. My faith in mankind was restored when McCloud stepped in and corrected the mistake. The "mistake" was part of him making his point and while this was an intential mistake, I have heard many say that the bible says "Money is the root of all evil." 1 Timothy 6:10 says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
I have spoken about the state of my Bible before. Bibles don't fall apart when they sit on the night stand or lie on our book cases. Bibles fall apart with constant opening and closing, we smudge pages when we are steady in them, they are pulled from their binding when we stretch them daily.
For thirty years I have carried a weapon as a part of my occupation. I dare not think what would happen if I had the weapon but had no knowledge of how to load it, aim it, or use it. The Word of God is my weapon. Merely knowing the word of God does not imply a higher status, a greater knowledge, or more jewels in our crown. In Luke 4:10, when the devil tempted Christ, he quoted scripture found in Psalm 91:11. Knowing the word of God also takes applying the word of God. I love my Lord and Savior, I have a passion for His Word and I pray that I absorb everything I can and put it to use.
I do not know everything and some things teach me different lessons each time I read them. Last week I woke up quoting "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." That's how I learned that verse when I was ten....that was many years ago and I had since forgotten where in Psalms it was. I searched until I found it in Psalms 56:3. The point was [for me] that I knew what to quote when I was afraid.
I have much growing to do but I have even more learning to do. I want to soak in every word. I don't want to be afraid and not know His promises, I don't want to be sick and not know His promises, I don't want to be alone and not know His promises. So I guess in my case, it really is in what I know.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; mediate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1:8
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