A Useful Book
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CEB) · Passing the Flame
“Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CEB)
Paul calls the Bible useful. Not ornamental. Not impressive. Useful.
The list Paul gives is revealing. Scripture teaches. Scripture points out what is broken. Scripture corrects course. Scripture trains character. All four are active verbs. The Bible is not a book you admire. It is a book you use.
And the purpose of the use is named. “So that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.” The Bible is not making us smart. It is making us useful in the kind of work God is doing in the world.
If your Bible has been sitting closed for a while, Paul would not scold you. He would remind you that it is meant for the hands and for the week, not for the shelf.
What is one verse of scripture you could use this week, not just read, but actually use?
Living God, put your word in our hands and make us useful. Teach us, correct us, train us, until our lives do the good work you prepared in advance for us. Amen.