When it comes to calendars, i prefer monthly calendars to daily calendars. I am bad enough at turning a calendar monthly. Daily is way too much to ask.
As such, i discovered this gem from yesterday this morning and decided to share it.
I find it very interesting that in our Bible Study we are so quick to point to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as the result of studying Scripture. Obviously, Paul’s statement about the origin of Scripture, as being “breathed out by God” (θεοπνευστος), is indispensable, but Scripture does much more than just teach, rebuke, correct, and train.
And unfortunately i am guilty of overemphasizing those uses myself.
But Paul also wrote Romans 15:4. It reads, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures” (emphasis added).
The Scriptures are to be encouraging as well.
I cannot overemphasize this.
When we are quicker to use the Bible to correct someone than we are to use the Bible to encourage someone, there is something wrong with our priorities. Especially if we claim the God-breathed quality of all the Scriptures.
This does not mean that there are not times when we should correct people with the Bible, but if the only time someone is given Scripture is in a correction sense, then there is a problem.
As Von Goethe says above, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
It is not without reason that John refers to the Holy Spirit with a Greek word that means “encourager.” This is what God does. And since God speaks through His Word, we should encourage one another through it.
Are you quicker to correct or to encourage with God’s Word?
Just something to ponder today.
Soli Deo Gloria
Sola Scriptura
live in Love; find your true reward 