There Is Only One

My son has been home with the stomach flu.  Poor guy.

I’m so grateful we are at the end of it, because it just wasn’t pretty.  Sam isn’t the best sick person because he just wants me to sit and hang out with him regardless of my “to-do” list.  And he likes to tell me over and over and over again how bad he feels.

Honestly, I’m kinda like that, too.

When Sam’s fever spiked, I had Wayne grab some medicine on his way home from work.  Rather than get exactly what I asked for, he got a different kind which was cheaper and promised to do the same thing as the medicine I requested.

While it helped him feel a little better… Sam was still miserable.

He needed the “good” medicine and so I ran out and grabbed it.  And within about 30 minutes, he was feeling the relief only that medicine could bring.

This example perfectly translates to our spiritual lives.

Here’s how.  You see, sometimes what we need more than anything is the salve that only the Word of God can offer.  But instead of going right for that medicine, we buy the cheaper option by reaching for books about the Bible.  And while they’re so many amazing books written to encourage us in our faith, they are not… the Bible.

Many times, these other books are not the medicine we so desperately need.

Think about it.  Do you find that you spend more time reading books about God rather than reading and studying the Word of God?

Sisters, hear my heart here.  I am not saying these others books aren’t good for us.  I’ve certainly found authors out there who greatly challenge me to love others better, seek Him harder, and deal with my crud.

A few books that I’m reading now are:

• Made to Crave by Lysa TerKuerst
• Weird by Craig Groeschel
• Radical by David Platt

They are messing with me. (That’s good!)  These authors are pulling me out of my comfort zone and making me take a hard look at how I live my life.  These books are making me ask some difficult questions.  They’re making me look at things from a different perspective. They are opening my eyes to areas that need healing.

But… they are not meant to replace the medicinal ability that only the Bible has.

If we are not opening up, reading and ingesting the life-giving words in His Book everyday, sisters we’re spiritually starving ourselves.   You see, the Bible is our handbook for life.  It’s relevant, timely, and complete.

Some of you may be thinking that the Bible is just a collection of stories written by men, therefore open to mistakes and misinterpretation.  You’re right and wrong.

It’s true that God had man write different books of the Bible, but make no mistake… He is the author.

“Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (GWT)

Some translations replace the word “inspired” with “God-breathed“… meaning God breathed into man what man breathed out onto the pages.  And since we know that God is incapable of lying, we can trust the Bible to be true.  All of it.  100%.

It’s simply our blue-print for being a Christ-follower.

Friends, don’t let other books replace the Bible.  Don’t allow them to solely direct your life.  As a matter of fact, every bit of information you get from these companion books should easily align with scripture.

The Bible is our true source for understanding, teaching, reprimanding, living, loving and healing.

There is only one.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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