According to 2 Timothy 3:15, The Bible, God’s Word is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction which is instruction in righteousness. The purpose is that the man of God may be perfect (fully equipped and furnished) unto all good works. This verse is written to a “Child of God.” A child of God is God’s child. Lord means ownership. The phrase child of God is the genitive of possession. Christianity is not who we are but whose we are. John 1:12-13 says, “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
A disciple is a disciplined student/follower. A child of God through the Word of God is equipped for every good work. The King James Version reads the people of God may be perfect, through and thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The Word of God is the love of God in manifestation. God is His Word and God is love, therefore God’s Word is love. Love gives unconditionally from the heart of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Love does the right thing.
When God said in Ezekiel 33, say, come now and say what the word of the Lord says. They will hear your word. Your words are like a beautiful performance... they gladly listen to your song, but they will not do them. But then when your words come to pass (according to God’s righteous judgement) they will know that you have spoken the word of the Lord.
The world thinks that reproof is a bad word. However, whom the Lord loves, He chastises. The greatest life lessons are learned through life’s most difficult tests. If you’re not being rebuked, it’s not because you don’t need it. It’s because you can’t take it. Hebrews 12 says that the Lord disciplines those whom he loves. “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” It’s painful to forsake your pride. Humility is learned in the refining fire and the crucible of my reproof. Reproof means to test and prove over and over that I, your God alone am your strength and sufficiency.”
When we approach the Word of God, as Paul prayed our prayer is, “Lord open the eyes of my spiritual understanding that I may know the hope of your calling and the riches of the glory of our inheritance of the saints.” People take notice when we live according to the loving standard of God’s Word. When we give grace and mercy instead of vengeance and retribution, the world sits up and takes notice. It’s not the world’s response to turn the other cheek, go the second mile, and recompense to no man or woman evil for evil.
The sermon on the mount is contrary to the world’s definition of happiness. The beatitudes are God’s blessed attitudes. Humility is the prerequisite to receive the Word of God. Like a child that hangs on his father’s words, we need to receive the Word of God with childlike innocence and humility. Doctrine, reproof, and correction are instruction in righteousness. God gave us His Word so that we could live under the canopy of His Divine love and protection. The Ten Commandments were God’s “terms of endearment”, his wedding vows to Israel. He is our “sole” provider and our “soul” provider.
To be adequate and equipped and fully furnished unto all good works, we are to be men and women of the Word. For God said through his prophet Isaiah, “As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returns not thither, but waters the earth and makes it bring forth and bud, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it will prosper in that thing where unto I sent it.”
Thank God for opportunities to live the Word ... to demonstrate the power of God in manifestation that we may through a heart of love, live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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