If Jesus Trusted the Bible, Then You Should, Too

Sep 19, 2014 If Jesus Trusted the Bible, Then You Should, Too by Rick Warren “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18 NIV) You may have heard someone say, “I trust Jesus, but not the other guys who wrote the Bible.” There’s a problem with that logic. Jesus trusted the Bible — every word of it! He taught that the Bible was a unique book, above all the others. Jesus said in Matthew 5:18, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (NIV). Jesus said the Bible will last until the end of time. It will accomplish what God wants to accomplish in this world. In John 10:35 Jesus said, “We know that Scripture is always true” (NIRV). Jesus proclaimed the truth of the Bible. And when Jesus talks about the truthfulness of the Bible, we need to listen. When Jesus talked about the Bible with people, he would often base his argument about the truth of the Bible on a single sentence or even a single word from the Bible. He believed every single sentence, every single word of Scripture. So if you trust Jesus, why wouldn’t you trust the Bible? When Jesus talks about the Bible, he doesn’t just talk about it as poetry and history, either. He saw the Bible as something that changes lives. In Luke11:28 Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Jesus doesn’t just want us to read the Bible. That’s what you do with poetry and history. Jesus wants us to obey the Bible. That’s what you do with anything the Creator of the universe writes. Jesus believed in some of the most disputed stories in the Bible, particularly Noah, Adam and Eve, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Jonah. People who think that the Bible is mostly good stories that didn’t really happen always point to those four stories. If Jesus really believed in Jonah, then I should, too. I don’t know how God created a fish that could swallow a guy, but he did. I trust in the Bible because Jesus trusted in it. You should, too. Talk It Over Is the Bible personal to you? What is the evidence of this in your life? Are there parts of the Bible that you have trouble believing? Why? What do you think God wants to accomplish in your life through his Word? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEzEbtA9ba8 Choose Faith over Fear TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NLT) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Did you know that fear works just like faith but in the opposite direction? Faith opens the door for God to work in our lives; fear opens the door for the enemy to work in our lives. The Bible says that fear has torment. Fear has no mercy. If you act on fear instead of acting on faith, it will keep you depressed, miserable and lonely. So many people today are missing out on God’s joy, peace and victory because they keep giving in to fear. They feed fear by what they watch on TV or at the movies. They worry and dwell on all the bad things. Don’t let that be you! Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The more you fill your heart and mind with God’s Word, the stronger you will be so you can stand against the powers of darkness. Remember, the power that is in you is greater than the power of fear. When thoughts come that say, “You’re not able,” choose faith by saying, “I can do all things through Christ!” Choose faith today so you can overcome fear and live in the freedom and victory God has in store for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, I receive Your Word today which is life, health and strength to me. I choose to close the door on fear by guarding what I say, what I listen to and what I dwell on. Fill me with Your love and faith as I meditate on Your Word in Jesus’ name. Amen.