City Life Starter

I. The Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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

II. Study Questions

1. What does it mean that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God?”

2. How does Paul’s benefits of God’s Word different from today’s popular teaching (v. 16)

3. What is the benefit of God’s Word according to Paul (v. 17)?

There are plenty of Christian authors who frequently write about benefits of the Word.  It is true that the benefits of the Bible in the life of Christians are the secret to many successful testimonies.  Although gaining the benefits leads some to go to the Word, I do not believe this is the main reason why we should meditate on God’s Word.

Growing up in a Buddhist family in South Korea, my biological father was devoted to worship and meditate on Buddha.  I remember going to various temples, some are thousand years old and located on the top of mountains.  We would hike hours to get to the temple and then spent hours to meditate.  My father would sit on a mat for hours to meditate in front of the thousand year old statue of Buddha.  What was he meditating on?  What was his atonement?  What was he trying to achieve?  As a child, watching your role model’s dedication and devotion to something had great impacts on me.  Many times, I joined him in his time of meditation, though I do not remember what I was meditating for.  Now that I look back, I just wanted to be with my father.

I do credit my father for giving me an example on what it means to be dedicated and devoted to a belief even though it was directed toward a false god.  After union with Christ, my devotion to the Word of God as the center of Christian faith became the most important thing in my life.  I would spent many hours in the Bible even though I did not understand what I was reading (nobody taught me how to read), I wanted to know God of this Bible and Jesus Christ who saved me.  This meditation happens early in the morning.  There is something about early in the morning that I can be undistracted from my daily load of works and fully engaged to God of the Bible.  Let me just say, I am not a morning person.  I don’t wake up each morning jumping up and down praising Jesus.  I literally roll off the bed and go straight to the coffee machine even though I am half awake.  Somehow, I manage to prepare coffee with my stumbling self which is a miracle everyday.  Jesus lives!  When I sit in front of the Bible (usually after first sip), I pray a simple prayer:

“Lord, here I am, speak, for Your servant hears.”  (1 Samuel 3)

Looking back to early days of my faith, there were two main parties who suggested why I should read the Bible.  The first is what I mentioned earlier, how the Bible can benefit in the life of a believer.  In many cases (not always), individuals who read the Bible are the center of the Bible.  They will find themselves in the Bible to relate themselves to a character or situation of some sort to find benefit for their lives.  This approach, in many occasions, leads one to ask, “What can God do for me?”  Unfortunately, this was also the main reason I sought the Bible as a new believer.  I would go to the Bible to find Scriptures that I can relate to my current circumstance in my life and find comfort in it.  The biggest issue I have with this methodology is that everything is about you: God’s solemn existence is to meet to your needs.

Next, we read the Bible to get to know the God of the Bible.  By learning the God of the Bible, His attributes, character and what pleases Him and doesn’t, you get accustomed to know more about Him.  And eventually, as you get to know Him better, you become more like Him.  The process is quite simple: more you know Him, you start to act like Him, talk like Him, believe like Him, pray like Him, forgive like Him and serve others like Him.  The goal is not what can God do for me, but how can I be more like Him that I may exemplify Him?  Do you see the difference between the two?  One is about self, while the other is about God.  

We meditate God’s Word in order to get to know our God better.  This pleases Him as we draw near to Him and become more like Him.  This will exemplify and glorify Him on this earth.  

God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible.

JY