Make It Your Own

All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful to teach us
what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.
It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is
God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for
every good thing God wants us to do.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

There are so many good books to read. We all need encouragement, and when we read of how someone has gotten through an especially difficult time with the help of God, it surely helps us know what is possible. Books can be inspiring, enlightening, and encouraging, but they are flawed, they are not the perfect Word of God--there can be unintentional errors that might mislead us if we are not in the Word of God daily, soaking up the Absolute Truth of the Almighty.

The best, the safest and the surest way to stay on the narrow path is to find that path for ourselves. We all have our own personal journey through life with God. We can learn certain things from others and gain from their wisdom and their faith, but if it is ever to become real to us, we must make it our own. There comes a time to put other books aside and read the Word.

Other books can help us along on the journey through life, but not the way the Bible can. Do you know why? Because each time we read a passage of Scripture, it can speak to us in a totally different way. We will be in a different place in our lives and we will need a different word from God, and He will provide it in a different way.

That is why Scripture is so alive, because it is ever changing. The words don’t change, we do, and God uses the same words to speak to us in a thousand different ways. That’s why we can never be sure what will happen when we open our Bibles. Each time we do, it is an adventure unto itself. What other books on earth can claim that?

When we re-read other books, we’ve "been there" before. How much excitement is there in that? If we’re looking for something new, let’s read the Bible--it is new every day!! Day after day after day!

Make the Word your own! Don’t rely on anyone else’s words to provide a relationship with God. That relationship is uniquely yours. Enjoy other books, but never allow them to be used in lieu of the Bible. God’s words are for you! He wants you to get to know Him through them! He wants to guide you and help you and encourage you as no one else can do.

Don’t miss out on the greatest adventure ever--your life, found in the pages of the Bible!