WBC Daily Devotions June 21-25

Daily Devotions for June 21-25

Greetings!

We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," in the sense that the Holy Spirit so guided the sacred writers that the words they wrote constitute the Word of God. We believe the Bible is the final authority and is fully sufficient for all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

-- Taken from the Wheaton Bible Church Statement of Faith, available online here:
http://www.wheatonbible.org/What_We_Believe

MONDAY, JUNE 21

Deuteronomy 6. Most likely you know this passage and have read it many times before. You may even be thinking to yourself, do I really need to re-read this? I know the general gist of what it says. But as we step into a two-week series that focuses on the centrality of the Bible, I urge you to take the time right now to stop reading my words and instead crack open God's Word. In fact, go ahead and read all of Deuteronomy 6. Don't rush. Don't skim. Don't slurp it up fast-food style. Read it slowly and carefully. Read it with a heart that is open to hearing God's word for you.

One of the five rallying cries of the Reformation was "Sola Scriptura," or "Only Scripture." Christ-followers were implored to set their entire lives underneath a single authority-the Bible. Not the church. Not sacred tradition. Just the Bible. The Bible, they claimed, was more important than anything else, and to be obeyed above and beyond anything else. Instead of playing a supporting role to the church and tradition, the Bible was to stand alone as the ultimate authority in life.

What do we read about this in Deuteronomy 6? How should this foundational passage of scripture impact and influence our appreciation of and delight in the Bible as a whole? Without the Bible, the entire Bible, all 66 books of it, the strange and sometimes difficult parts included, how could we accomplish the command of Deuteronomy 6:4-5?

Now for many of us, we affirm the concept of "Only Scripture" with our mouths, but what is revealed in our lives? We warmly receive this on Sunday morning, but what impact does it have on us come Monday morning? We claim that the Bible is our most treasured possession, but what would an audit of our time reveal about its true value for us?

TUESDAY, JUNE 22

There are lots of things I love about summer, but one of my favorite things is home-grown tomatoes. Big or small, I don't care. They are juicy and sweet and perfectly ripe; a far cry from the hard bland fruits sold in supermarkets. I love tomatoes, but I am a terrible gardener. In fact, I really don't have the patience or the expertise to grow them myself. I want the fruit, but I don't want the work.

How come everyone doesn't make Jesus their king? The disciples had some similar questions for Jesus, wondering how their could be so much rejection for someone who was bringing so much! So he answered them with a story, which we can read in Matthew 13:1-23.

Did you stop reading my words and go read God's Word yet? Resist the temptation to rush through this devotional and instead go and read all of Matthew 13.

We looked at this parable a few months ago, but it's so important that we're reading it again today. As you read this section, what are some key words or phrases that jump out at you? Specifically, we're looking for words that link back to Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

Every day we spend hours listening to all kinds of things. We are surrounded by auditory input of one sort or another all day long. But what does Jesus tell his disciples to do? How does story explain why so few people were recognizing the dawning of God's kingdom in Jesus? What kind of soil does it make us want to be like? What, specifically, are we supposed to do in order to bear such fruit?

The fertile soil is the person who listens to God's words. That does not mean passively receiving noise. A simple tape recorder can "listen" like that. Rather, it means internalizing God's word. It means taking in what God says to us in the Bible and making it the central driving force in our lives. It means consuming His word and letting it control our thoughts, our words and our actions. We can't have the fruit of God's word in our life without investing the time and effort to let it change the way we live our lives.

This is at the heart of "Only Scripture." The one who is truly listening, who keeps God's word at the center of their lives, cannot help but bear fruit as a result. So, the question is, where is the fruit?

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23

We live in a scary and unpredictable world. Now of course, this is also a place of incredible beauty and stunning moments of joy and peace. But even my children know that sunny days can easily turn into thunderous storms. Toys break, pages tear, and bees leave painful stings. We can't control any of this. Yet a frequent refrain throughout the Bible is to not be afraid.

Read Joshua 1. As we have been doing all week, read this chapter slowly and carefully, letting God's Word sink in slowly and deeply.

Now, what is the command that jumps out, the command that we so frequently hear sermons about? (Look at Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 and 18.)

The Lord is pretty clear about the kind of attitude he is expecting from the people. Instead of being afraid, they are to be courageous. Instead of being hesitant in the face of the unknown, they are to be bold.

But how? Why? Simply telling someone to stop being afraid usually doesn't help very much. So what rationale does God give to support his command? (Look at Joshua 1:1-5, 9, 15.)

God is not telling the people to simply "buck up" and try harder. They are to be bold and courageous for a reason--because it is God who goes before them. They are to be bold and courageous because of the relationship that they have with Him.

However, relationships require knowing someone. So what guidance does God give the people in this regard? (Look at Joshua 1:6-9.)

At the time of Joshua, this command applied solely to the books they had available to them; the law of Moses. How much more have we been blessed with the entire Bible! Yet the command remains the same. If we are to be bold and courageous, if we are to know and understand God's plans and purposes, if we are to grow in our relationship with the God we serve, we have to read His word. We simply cannot know God without it.

How are you going to restructure your Bible reading plan this summer as a result?

THURSDAY, JUNE 24

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9-17)

It all comes down to a relationship. The reformation battle cry of "Only Scripture" is found again in Scripture, right here in John 15. There can be no other authority in our lives than God. Anything else is idolatry. And there is no other way to know God except through the Word. Jesus remained in the father by doing His commands. We remain in Jesus by doing His commands. And where do we find those commands?

Today we're going to try reading four chapters in one sitting. Read John 13-16. These four chapters form a single unit within the book of John, encompassing some of Jesus' most treasured teachings. You'll want to use a real Bible, not the computer. Read it slowly. If your mind starts to wander off and think about things you need to do or people you have to email, take a moment to jot that thought down and then go back to reading the text. It may seem strange to read so much at one time, but afterwards you will feel like you've eaten a substantial meal instead of merely cramming down a snack in the drive-through lane.

"Abide in me." One of the sure-fire ways to stay connected to the vine is to read God's Word on a regular, daily basis. Read it, consume it, restore it to its rightful place as the single governing authority in your life.

FRIDAY, JUNE 25

For our final foray into the Scriptures this week, we turn at last to 2 Timothy and the oft-quoted section in 1 Timothy 3 about divine inspiration. However, rather than simply re-reading the proof-text and moving on quickly to something else, I urge you to commit the time to reading 2 Timothy as it was meant to be read--in its entirety, as a letter. Suppose someone wrote us a long, heart-felt, passionate letter. How silly would it feel to simply read a few paragraphs and then call it a day? Or even worse, to simply skip to one favorite line before folding it up and putting it away?

So, today, open your Bible and read 2 Timothy from beginning to end. It really won't take as long as you think. Again, if you find your mind wandering, remember that the renewed effort and commitment you are making to studying God's word will not go unnoticed by the enemy, and he will do everything he can to distract and demoralize you. Pray often, and press on.

We love to quote 2 Timothy 3:16, but what is the context into which Paul inserts this important verse? What is he warning Timothy about? More than simply affirming that the Scriptures are God's words (the Scriptures in this case almost certainly referring to what we would call the Old Testament), Paul is telling Timothy that they are enough. The Scriptures contain all that he needs to battle against the incredible persecution and temptation that is coming his way. The Scriptures are enough to guide and teach and lead and correct.

And this really shouldn't be any surprise! These are God's words, after all. How could they NOT be sufficient? How could they NOT be enough? We have become so enamored with expert opinions that we have diminished our appreciation for the only one whose opinion ultimately matters--God.

So maybe for some of us today is a time for repentance. Maybe today is a day to take stock of our relationship with God and seek His forgiveness for the careless way in which we treat His word. Maybe today is the day to ask the Lord for a new passion and zeal for reading the Bible. Maybe then we will truly recognize that this book is enough.

Jonathan Ziman
Community Life Pastor

Wheaton Bible Church
27W500 North Avenue
West Chicago, IL 60185
630.260.1600
www.wheatonbible.org