All Scripture is inspired...

Did you ever read a verse of Scripture and feel like nothing resonates with you or strikes a chord in your heart.  You read it again, and still it doesn't seem to speak or settle in.  It's a great verse, that's not the problem.  I mean, they are all great verses aren't they...they were written by God!  But still you are left void of attachment, enlightenment or movement of any kind.  Nothing clicks.  Well that happened to me this morning as I read Hebrews 1:3.  "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high."  

Great verse, right?  I tried breaking it down.  Jesus is....All wonderful stuff, still nothing though.  Then the Holy Spirit brought to mind the verse at the end of today's "31 Days of Praise", devotional, which is Day 7. (And yes, there is that little book again, I'm telling you it is an awesome little book!!)  The verse from Day 7 was 2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

All Scripture!!  That includes the ones that don't reach us right away.  That includes Hebrews 1:3 for me today.  So I got to thinking (uh-oh, always scary!!), maybe a good way to look at a verse is through 2 Tim 3:16-17.  You know all those little helpful hints about reading and understanding God's Word, like:  "who is it speaking to.   Is there a promise?  Is there instruction or warning?  How can I apply what I learn...."  Well that is what I mean by looking at all verses through the filter of 2 Tim 3:16-17.   We could use the questions:  Is this verse teaching me something? Correcting a thought pattern or behavior?  Does it bring conviction about something in my life?   How does it lead me to right living?  How does it help equip me and make me adequate for every good work?  Do you see what I mean? So now in looking at this verse that caused me to get stuck today through this I can find illumination and revelation,  it can help me grow.

Isaiah 55:10-11  For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth;  it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 

God's Word is always profitable.  Always bearing fruit.  Maybe we won't see it right away, but it's there working in us, changing us, bringing us to reflect Jesus more and more.  The changes may be slow to us, but they are evolving all the same.  The next time you are stuck on a verse, try looking at it from this perspective.  Maybe it'll help stir something up.

Lord, thank You for Your Word.  Thank You for using it to change us, teach us, and to enable us to glorify You when we live by it.  Help it to become more and more alive in our lives.