Disciple Together

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The best decision I ever made was when I decided to follow Jesus. Part of that decision included learning about Him, learning from Him, and learning what He had to say about me. As it turns out, He has a lot to say, and I’m so very thankful.

In my former life as a so-called Atheist (though I hadn’t researched my position or had any kind of evidence to support it) I struggled with a lack of congruence; there didn’t seem to be any unity between my worldview and what I observed. So much of what was happening around me didn’t make sense. And I certainly struggled the most with finding my purpose.

The big point in life seemed to be, “so what?”

That all changed when I eventually became a Christian. Suddenly, my life meant something, even if my earthly impact was small. And in an exciting way, I’d felt like I discovered the Theory of Everything; everything suddenly made so much more sense! As I researched more and more, this became more and more true. 

I’m not sure when or how I first learned about the inerrancy of the Bible, and came to accept that position, but I’m sure it had something to do with seeing everything work out so beautifully, so incredibly, so perfectly.

Now, of course, I know and hold the scriptures dear, as the precious word of God and I believe that: 

WHY THIS MATTERS

Do you believe the Bible actually speaks to each and every situation in your life? If you do, you will find all the answers there. If you don’t, you’ll look elsewhere. 

This matters because it will test your faith! And it will direct your life. 

If, for instance, I believe that the Bible has encouragement for me in my struggle with hormonal irritability, (uh…hypothetically…) then I will search for scripture, I will pray, and I will believe that there is some misaligned part of me that requires God’s correction.

If, however, I choose to discount God’s word because there is no such direct scripture, and because Jesus was a man, so didn’t share my particular challenge, then I’m essentially saying God’s word is insufficient. 

That isn’t congruent, and it’s the pitfall we’re all tempted to: when the way God works isn’t evident to us, we turn to our own ways (think of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit, or Abraham and Sarah using Hagar to birth children for Abraham, or the Israelites and the golden calf, and so on.)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

I’m not saying that we may not also need to seek medical help, or to change our lifestyle, or that there will not be actions we need to take to heal this area of our life – there will be – however, I am urging us not to give up on God and on His power and authority in our lives.