IS THE BIBLE A MERE WRITTEN LETTERS?. DISCOVER WHAT MAKES THE BIBLE THE MANUAL OF OUR LIVES.

CHRISTIAN TREASURE DEVOTION

IS THE BIBLE A MERE WRITTEN WORDS?. DISCOVER WHAT MAKES THE BIBLE A MANUAL OF OUR LIVES.

ANCHOR SCRIPTURE. Proverbs 4:20 (ESV) - “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.”

INTRODUCTION

The Bible contains the words of God; it is the book of life, inspired by the Holy Spirit over time. It serves as our example, offering admonishment, inspiration, exhortation, and discipline. Some people, especially non-Christians, claim that the New Testament is merely a collection of letters. Is that really true? Let’s explore this through the story below.

AN ILLUSTRATION

A Christian man, nearing the end of his life and confined to his sickbed, called for his three sons. “As you can see,” he began, “I am an old man, and I will soon be called home. In that old box over there,” he pointed to a large iron box in the corner of his bedroom, “are three letters for each of you. These letters should not be opened until after I have gone to be with the Lord. They contain instructions on how to locate the inheritance I have for all of you. You have often asked me if I would leave any inheritance, and I always told you that, in due time, it would be revealed to you.”

Days later, the man passed away. After the burial, his sons finally opened the box, only to be shocked to find three Bibles inside. They searched each Bible, hoping to find a letter, but all they found were the neatly kept Bibles.

The three young men were furious. “We’ve been scammed by our father! He knew he didn’t leave any money for us for a burial; he just wanted a decent burial for himself,” complained the oldest son.

“I spent all my life savings to give him a proper burial, and this is all I got!” exclaimed the second-born. “Oh God, what a wicked father!” The complaints continued, and all three were bitter towards their deceased father.

However, a few days later, the youngest son returned to his father's room while his brothers were away. He took one of the Bibles and began to think about his father. Suddenly, he remembered how his father always encouraged them to be familiar with the words of God. It felt as though his father was rebuking him gently, just as he used to do—his father was a man of few words. He recalled how his father often mediated disputes, successfully reconciling parties where others had failed. When he had asked for his father’s secret, his father would point to the Bible.

Determined to take his father’s words seriously, he opened the Bible and began to read. The content captivated him. Over the next few days, while his brothers were away, he read more and discovered that the Bible was filled with wisdom, love, healing, and deliverance. He resolved to apply these insights to his life.

As Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man's gift brings him before great men.” He realized that if he used his God-given skills effectively, it could lead him to great places. From that point on, his life changed positively, benefiting him greatly.

People often ask, “Is the New Testament merely a collection of letters?” As I said earlier, it is much more than that. Although the New Testament contains many letters, to view it as just that would be a disservice to oneself. The Bible is a sacred manual provided to a select few through divine inspiration.

Another important point Is how the Bible serves as a manual for our lives. This is not just a fact, but a profound truth. Within its pages, we can learn how to prosper, the kind of friends to associate with, the traits to look for in a spouse, and how to conduct ourselves in a Christian manner. It truly serves as a guide for us.

CONCLUSION

The Bible is not merely a collection of letters; it is rich with wisdom, inspired by God, and has proven to be the Christian's manual for life. It holds invaluable wisdom for those who consistently refer to it in pursuit of a fulfilling and profitable life.