Why do we read? Why do we study? Why do we watch the news? Why do we ask questions? There might be a wide variety of answers to the questions I’ve just asked. But the general answer is…we want to know.
Why did God see fit to have men write the books of the Bible? For one thing, God wants us to know about Him. But as Paul writes to Timothy in today’s passage, it is also to equip us to do the good works God has planned in advance for us to do.
Paul states Scripture is useful for teaching. In other words, we learn by reading it. We also dig deeper into the meaning of it. We use it to teach our children and those who are new to Christianity. We use it to train one another in the ways of God, to grow closer to Him, and be prepared to answer for our faith.
We don’t typically like to think about it being used to rebuke someone or be rebuked by it. Yet, it is written for that reason…and we need to be rebuked when we get off the path God desires us to be on. Correcting is very similar. We do not like being corrected, but when we are in the wrong, we need the correction. Especially when we have gone chasing after worldly pursuits that are leading us to destruction.
As we are taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained, we are prepared for the doing good works for God. It is important we go about doing those good works, most importantly teaching others about Jesus. If we are unwilling to teach others about Jesus, what does that say about us? It says we are not really secure in our faith, or we haven’t truly learned the lessons we need to learn. After all, why wouldn’t we want to tell everyone we meet about the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ?
I pray we all read the Bible to learn more about God. I pray we correct our ways based on the teaching of the Bible. I pray each one of us use our knowledge of God to do good works. Read the Bible. Learn about God. Accept rebuking when needed. Be willing to be corrected. Be trained in righteousness. Be equipped to do good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Marty Pressey 