“And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 3:15
The Bible is the only book that contains the principles that can make a man wise by bringing a deep transformation to every area of life. Jesus said that the Word He spoke to His disciples made them clean. It is so crucial to have an open heart in order to really receive the Word of God when you read the Scriptures.
God speaks to us through the Scriptures. When we read the Bible we find specific passages that become key to opening our hearts as well as opening our understanding of the Scriptures. This allows us to hear God’s voice speaking directly to us, and the words that He speaks through the Scriptures are transformed into spirit and life for us.
A man called St. Augustine, who became a great theological thinker in the early church, was an alcoholic before he converted to Christianity. He admitted to having countless flaws. But one day, he read the following scripture that really impacted him and changed his life. “…The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12). This scripture goes on to make reference to ending greed and drunkenness. Through the impact of this passage on his life, this man was changed from his drunken ways and became the great theological thinker and help to the church who we know as St. Augustine. He understood that he had to leave his life of alcoholism and sin in order to turn to Jesus.
How can we see the same thing in our lives? The Apostle Peter said, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2). Take note that in order to see the power of the Word of God at work in our hearts, we have to first uproot and reject ‘all malice.’
The word “malice” refers to the making of plans, associated to behavior patterns that are contrary to the purpose and will of God. It is linked to falsehood and bad intent, which in turn leads to lies. All of these things can be transformed and eradicated from our lives when we come to the blessed Word of God, making it our own personal guide.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“At a very early age, I experienced something that was to shape the rest of my life. Every time I went to visit my grandmother, I would go into her bedroom and she would be there, with another one of her grandsons. He had been born crippled, epileptic and deaf, and it was left to her to look after him. For thirty years she took care of him. She bathed him, fed him, changed him, and carried him outside into the sunshine for fresh air. I never once heard her complain. She never spoke of his misfortunes. She never spoke out against God, in fact, quite the opposite. My grandmother often prayed for the sick and they received healing. She shared the Gospel and people would get saved.
One day, though, I witnessed Hugo, my cousin pass away. I was only about ten or eleven years old when it happened. It was terrible to see him dying from a series of epileptic seizures, one after the other. In the early hours of that morning when he passed away, my grandmother threw herself to the floor. She knelt down, put her hands up to heaven and said, “Lord, thank you for allowing me to take care of Hugo. Now, Lord, I’m ready for You to take me into Your presence.
This showed me the reality of what it means to persevere in faith. What my grandmother did for my cousin was a real expression of true love. It showed me the kind of love that someone displays when they deny themselves to take up His Cross. This was a love that made any sacrifice in order to serve others and give them life. Hugo was never healed, but I did see my grandmother lovingly take care of him regardless of the situation they faced. The day he died he was over 30 years old. During that day the pain he had experienced ended for him, and I realized that even those who are healed miraculously must one day pass away.” (Pastor Jorge Lopez)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“God’s destiny for me is to rescue souls and I commit to doing that. I will fulfill His purpose for my life.”
Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Two.
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
- Old Testament: Ruth 1; Psalms 92
- New Testament: Mark 8:31-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28
