When we encounter the Bible, we are encountering God. Through His Word, we are reproved, corrected, and trained in the way we should go; it defines and directs our lives. Will you listen to how God is speaking to you through His Word today or will you reject what He has exposed in you?

Scripture References:

2 Timothy 3:14-17
Galatians 6:9
Psalm 139
1 Timothy 6:10

Fully Devoted | Life Church Worship | iTunes

Once For All | City Alight | iTunes

This is Our God | Hillsong Worship | iTunes
2 Corinthians 12:9 • Titus 3:5 • Psalm 48:14

God You Are My God | Vertical Worship | iTunes
Zechariah 14:9 • Isaiah 2:2 • 1 Peter 1:18-20

The Rock Won’t Move | Vertical Worship | iTunes
Psalm 62:5-8 • 1 Peter 2:4-8 • 2 Samuel 22:47 • Matthew 7:24-27 • Psalm 18:2

O Praise the Name | Hillsong Worship | iTunes

Through the chart above, we see illustrated the three ways in which teaching invades our life as we interact with the Word: reproof (makes us realize what is wrong in our lives), correction, and training. As we come in contact with the Word, we first experience reproof through the confrontation of sin and exposure of deceit; we are then able to separate Truth from lies. From there, we have two options—we can either move towards correction or move towards rejection:

If we choose to listen to reproof, correction then shows us new ways to think, feel, and live. This starts the process of training in which we are acting and making decisions towards correction. As we interact with Scripture, the process repeats over and over; Scripture is constantly exposing us.

If we come to the moment of reproof and reject the Truth that we have been shown, then we begin to actively deceive ourselves as we try to exchange the Truth for a lie. This causes our hearts to harden. As we continue to live and be exposed to God’s truth, we will have the option again to be reproved, corrected, and trained. However, as we learned in Hebrews, it is possible for us to continue to reject the Truth and so deceive ourselves and harden our hearts that God no longer reproves us.

1. When interacting with God’s Word, you can fall into two different categories:

First, you may experience the process of reproof, correction, and training often. You are willing to bring yourself under the authority of Scripture therefore you have become sensitive to the movement of God’s work in your heart. You are already training in righteousness, so you experience it consistently. What is a recent example in your life  when you underwent this process of training? In what ways was it difficult to choose the path of correction instead of rejection?

Secondly, you may be at the point of reproof—you have been confronted with God’s Truth in an area of your life, but you have not decided whether to reject the Truth and continue in sin or to submit to God’s authority. In what situation are you facing the choice between listening to reproof and moving towards correction or choosing to reject reproof? How will you take steps forward in listening to reproof rather than rejecting? What steps can you take to ask your community to rally around you and support you in the way you should go?

2. The Bible is active—it moves us; it aims to make us action-oriented people. In the past week, what has God’s Word moved you to do? What actions have you taken in response to the movement of your heart? Have you placed yourself underneath the authority of Scripture in a way that defines and directs your life?

Thoughts to Consider:

– The validity and believability of the Bible in the eyes of those who are taught rests in the character and content of the life of those who teach it.

– It is in God’s nature to communicate—God is always with His Word. When we read the Bible, we are always encountering Him.

– When you read God’s Word, it is a direct address to you.

– When studying the Bible, three good questions to ask are: What does this text teach me about God? What does it teach me about myself? And how does it teach me to think, feel, and act today?