Pursuit22

Week 2: What’s the use in reading Scripture?

Memory Verse
{2 Timothy 3.16-17 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”}

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~Day 1~
About the Author

I want you to think about the famous person that you admire the most. Maybe it’s Justin Beiber, Taylor Swift, TobyMac, or some movie star. Now imagine if they wrote a book for you that encouragement for you and stories about them and even more than that, secrets about themselves. Would you take time to read it? Absolutely!

Reread 2 Timothy 3.16-17.

Did you catch that first part…. BREATHED OUT BY GOD! Wow! We can know God through Scripture because HE is the AUTHOR! It is Scripture that we get to see many of His great works! He is truly is so good!

Read Psalm 119.27.

The more you read about Him, the more you see His true character. The more you see His character in history, the more you can trust Him now! God’s Holy Word is full of testaments to His faithfulness, goodness, mercy, grace, compassion, sacrifice, and most of all His LOVE! Don’t miss out on the chance to see God’s heart. To look into God’s journal. To witness His power. And to be transformed by His perfect character!

-          Ask yourself who you want to know the most in your life? There is one person in your life that you want to know more than anyone else… maybe it’s your boyfriend/girlfriend, best friend, or sibling. Maybe it’s Jesus! Be honest with yourself.

-          Pray. Ask God to make Himself your first desire of knowledge. Make a commitment now to spend more time learning about the Author of the Bible!

 

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~Day 2~
The Real Deal

-KNOWING TRUTH-

In America, people who inspect money study what true money looks like AND what counterfeit money looks like. However Canada has the best success at catching counterfeit money…. Wanna know why? Canada money inspectors study the true money. They study the true money so much and so in depth that something that isn’t genuine immediately stands out!

Take a look at John 17.17

This verse clearly states it…. THE WORD IS TRUTH!
In Scripture we not only find the true character of God but the TRUTH in the GOSPEL! We see that Christ came to save us and that He loves us more than we comprehend! He is our redemption, our hope, and our true joy in life. The deal is though… when you find something, someone, someway that is that good… YOU HAVE TO SHARE IT!

-SHARING TRUTH-

Read Romans 1.16

Once receive the power of the Gospel, the power of Christ, we will want to give that power to others! How do we do that? By sharing truth!

-LIVING TRUTH-

Read Philippians 1.27

It really is an endless cycle. As you discover truth, you share truth, and you can help but LIVE TRUTH! If we want people to actually respond when we share truth we need to strive to live truth! Living a life totally worthy of the Gospel would be pretty much impossible! We need to try though! We want others to see Christ in us!

Spend some time evaluating all three areas:
- Do I spend time seeking God’s Word for truth?
- Am I making a point to share God’s truth with others consistently?
- Am I living a life that shows truth to others?

 

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~Day 3~
Check the Scale

My friend who wrestled for many years was explaining to me some disciplines of wrestling this week. Because a wrestler has to stay in a certain weight class, they are constantly watching their food and exercise to make sure they stay in the appropriate category. The true way to know when they are getting off track is by getting on the scale. That is what really counts. Scripture is the same way for us. The best way to recognize when we are getting out of God’s will is by getting in to His Word.

Read Hebrews 4.12.

Scripture corrects us in our wrong and guides us back to the right path. The cool thing is that the Bible doesn’t just convict us of our outward sin but also of the motives of the heart.
Don’t get all worked about this correction… it’s not a bad thing!

Read Hebrews 12.10-11.

He disciplines us for our good! Even though it seems difficult at the time, it is beneficial and necessary! Because God loves us, we can trust that His correction for us is good! Since it is good, we should DESIRE it!

Read Psalm 119.10

There’s that phrase again… “with my whole heart.” God wants us to see His structure and discipline for our life as a gift… so much that we crave it! We desire it! We welcome it!

-          Do you desire correction from the Bible with your whole heart?

-          Do you honestly see it as a good thing when God corrects or disciplines you?

 

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~Day 4~
Bloom

Think of a flower. It starts out as seed... I mean not exactly ugly but definitely nothing that would catch your eye or make you pause in its beauty. However, when it’s planted in the right soil with the proper care, its roots spread deep and it blooms into its full potential. We are the same way. Without Christ changing our lives we’re a seed… but when we really plant ourselves in Scripture and we surround ourselves with the right nourishment, our roots grow deep in Christ and we BLOOM to our full potential beauty!

Read Col. 3.15-17.

Can’t you see it in this passage?! As the bad is stripped away, Christ fills us with the things, attitudes, love of Himself! He pours into us, molds us and makes us something beautiful! The key is we can’t just read Scripture we need to practice Scripture!

Read James 1.19-25

We are seeds waiting to bloom, Seeds that see the possible beauty and need to get planted. How do we do that?? We seek the Lord… We seek His Word… We let it mold us… We become doers of the Word and not just hearers!

-          Do you want to be molded and grow into all God has designed for you to be?

-          If so how are you going to allow that through Scripture?

Suggestions: Taking a passage such as Col. 3.5-17 and mediating on one thing a day/week you want God to develop in you.

 

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~Day 5~
Hold Me Together

Read Psalm 119.130.

I don’t know how your version states it but mine says that Scripture gives LIGHT and UNDERSTANDING! If you’ve ever been through a very difficult time, you know that nothing seems to help. What I can tell you is that Scripture WILL! Throughout Scripture we can see God’s PROMISES!

Read 2 Corinthians 1.3-4.

He will comfort you. We also see God’s PROCESS!

Read Romans 5.3-5.

There are so many times in my life that the WORD sustained me. It encouraged me to keep going when it was all too much! God really started teaching me the truth in Romans 5.3-5 when my mom and stepdad went through their divorce. It was really hard time and I often wondered why God would allow my family to suffer a second divorce. He showed me that regardless of why it was happening, He was producing traits in me that I couldn’t comprehend. He produces perseverance and character and hope! These are lasting and will not let us down!

 

-          Reflect on a time when Scripture sustained you or a time that you wish you had sought the Bible for comfort looking back on it.

-          Thank God for providing you comfort and encouragement in hard times!

 

I pray that through these devotionals you see the importance in being in God’s Word! I pray that in the coming weeks you will commit to be in it and commit to let it mold you and commit to BLOOMING!

What are your thoughts? I want feedback. Feel free to send me any question responses. I would love to hear from you, answer any questions you have, and pray for your needs specifically. Feel free to share this, comment, email me at brandycaudill90@gmail.com, or facebook message me!