Daily Devotionals

Ghost: Week 2 - Tuesday

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

2 Timothy 3:16

One way that the Holy Spirit guides us is through the Word of God. When we spend time reading the Bible, God will stir in our hearts the things that need to change. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is, "Sharper than a two-edged sword…it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Take that in for a moment because the Bible has a way of cutting to the heart of the matter. As we open the pages of the Bible, we allow the opportunity for the Spirit to mold and shape us as followers of Jesus. 

Paul, in writing to Timothy, reminded him that God inspires the words that we have in the Bible. God spoke through the authors to give us hope and to teach us how to pursue Him. His Word also gives us a compass between what is right and wrong in life. When our hearts are open to receive from God, we will find that the Holy Spirit will speak to us as we are reading. In our devotionals, it may be that sometimes we read a passage of Scripture and it applies directly to what is happening in our life that day. It could be that you're investigating a story in the Bible about God's power and it stretches you in your understanding of God's abilities. When you sit in a Small Group and you read the Bible together, the Spirit has a way of revealing His truth differently to each person. As you share together, you will find that God opens your eyes to teach you new truths. When you are sitting in church on the weekend, the pastor shares something from the Bible that forces you to reevaluate the way you have been living. 

The Word of God is living and active. It still inspires us today as the Holy Spirit works through the Bible’s pages. How will you let His Word shape you today?

Moving Toward Action

Last year I set the goal to read the Bible in one year. I signed up for an online program that kept me accountable and then I began to read daily through the selected passages of scripture. It was a great journey, and I learned so much in the process. What I noticed was there were times that I was both prepared to read and to hear God's voice, and times where I was just finishing my assignment. The times when I was ready to be inspired were much more profitable and fulfilling. It is clear that you have a desire to get to know God better because you're doing this Daily Devotional. Take some time to journal about some steps that you can take to keep hearing from God and His inspiration rather than seeing your quiet time as an assignment to be done.

Going Deeper

Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NLT)

 

 

But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.