One man said to his friend,
“What do you believe about God?”
“I believe what my church believes.”
“What does your church believe?”
“My church believes what I believe.”
“What do you and your church believe?”
“We both believe the same thing.”
It is sad to say, but this is about all some people know about God and His written word. Many, it seems, are counting on someone else to study the Bible for them. Paul warns us, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We must all, as individuals, stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We cannot rely on anyone else at that time, but we will all receive what we individually deserve from the Lord.
Paul continued, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). If I could persuade you of only one thing today, it would be this: Please study your Bible for yourself.
Do you have the same love for the Bible that the writer of Psalm 119 had? Each of its twenty-two sections is devoted to praise for God’s revelation. Each section extols the power of the Bible. Verses 113–120 are typical of the beautiful thoughts about the word:
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.
Can you truly say with the psalmist, “I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law”?
