Watchword for the Month
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” – 2 Tim. 3:16
Dear reader/listener, why do you read the Bible? How often do you read your Bible? I have just listened to an interview with someone who is a Bible translator. They took old or the oldest acceptable scriptures known in their original languages and translated those into our Bible Books so that we can understand what the original thoughts and interpretations may be.
Isn’t that a wonderful thought? The biblical words that you and I use when we address people are seen as words given and spoken by God – and we are the carriers of those thoughts, ideas, words…When Jesus commanded us to go into the whole world and bring his Word to all the people He also empowered us to be his voice supported by his Spirit. It is thus a very responsible task.
Added to this important thought is the responsibility to ensure that what is brought to people is right. The question to our Bible translator was: Why are there so many translations of the Bible? One of the important answers given was to ensure that what you translate is right. Through the light of God’s Spirit and our experiences with God new thoughts continually emerge of what is right or how to put God’s will to his people in words that can be easier understood. Yes, this is a serious responsibility at all times and at all levels. We sometimes want to simplify the Gospel so that even children can understand it, but especially then we must still ensure that it is the total truth.
At this moment I am thinking of preachers and all those bringing God’s Word to God’s people. Can you think how important it is for us to be careful when we bring God’s Word to God’s people? In the first place it is God’s Word and then it is meant to teach, rebuke, correct and train which are all very important functions and services we are expected to perform. We are entrusted with the duty to look after one another and do it according to God’s Word.
What are we to teach? We go to services! We go to Confirmation classes! We participate in Bible Studies! We go study God’s Word at the Seminary! Each and every time we either teach or get taught something about the interaction of God with his people. It is therefore important that you do not just go to any teaching session but that there is some credible reputation attached.
Why do we rebuke? God’s Word is very often taken up in false doctrines. Do you know or do you take the effort to find out whether a doctrine is false? There are so many cultures competing with the Christian teachings. Do we just accept what is brought to us over the media? We have recently heard of various false practices in fly-by-night churches. Jesus could say: Away from me, Satan. (Matt. 4:10; et al). Are we strong and clear enough to say the same when we are met with false teachings?
Are we addressing errors? Only the person who knows God’s Word can really address the wrongs we are confronted with. It is so important for a child of God to know his Word so that we can also say: Thus says the Lord! It is very difficult to unlearn wrong thoughts and concepts we have learnt. Knowing God’s Word helps you to immediately e.g. say: But that is not what Jesus said or meant.
How much time do we make to train new and young believers in the Word of God so that they from the outset know what is expected of them or what to say? Paul taught Timothy: Take time to train the new converts. There are many ways to train and one of them is through repetition. Elder folk will remember how they were trained to remember texts for special occasions. Ps 23, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, or those texts predicting the birth of Jesus and so much more were texts we were trained in to remember. When people come to us with strange doctrines we should be able to say: But this is what my God teaches. Get away from me, Satan.
When people could not read or write they memorised God’s Word, and especially when Bibles were not freely available. Make sure that you make proper use of your Bible, God’s Word, to be an informed child of God. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Lord, as the days go by we are faced with more and more challenging situations. You offered us your Word to use at all times. You offered us you Word to use as we tackle the moments in life where we feel overwhelmed and even stunned while we have to be alert. Open your Word so that we may walk in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Augustine Joemath (Bishop)