2 Timothy 3:16–17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

July 16th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3 that God’s word is good for us; it is profitable. He lists 4 functions of the word of God in our lives: content, conviction, correction, and character. God left us His word not simply to increase our knowledge, but to infect our character and conduct. Seeing how important God’s word is to the very foundation of our lives, it isn’t surprising that Satan’s first recorded words in Genesis were an attempt to deny the trustworthiness of God’s word, saying to Eve: “Did God really say?” (Gen. 3:1, NIV). Things haven’t changed since that first questioning accusation, and those today who deny the trustworthiness of Scripture are simply echoing the original lie of the enemy of God.

The phrase, “given by inspiration of God,” means God’s word is literally God breathed. And the ESV translates this verse: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (italics added). Inspiration, or breathed out, comes from the Greek word theopneustos. It is a combination of theos, meaning God, and pneuma, describing a movement of air.

Jesus made perhaps the clearest statement describing the ultimate importance of Scripture when, as Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Matt. 4:4). What has come from the mouth of God? The Scripture, and because it is from His mouth, we should be living by it. Spending time daily in Scripture is an essential component of every growing believer’s life. If we neglect to meet God in the words He preserved for us, we eventually lose our orientation in life and God seems distant. But God has promised to never leave us. He hasn’t moved. He still speaks to us through the Scripture, if we simply read and ask Him for direction.

“LORD, give us an every increasing hunger for Your Word and an even greater desire to faithfully do what it says.”