‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (v.17).

I don’t know about you but when I come to the Bible, or sit down to listen to a sermon on Sunday, I come for encouragement, teaching and equipping. But if I’m honest, I don’t always come ready for Scripture to rebuke or correct me!

The truth is God’s word is full of life-giving hope. But that hope is not a gentle ‘there-there’ pat on the back. It’s a real hope. It’s a hope that knows the ups and downs of life all too well. It’s a hope that will remain ‘in season and out of season’ (4:2). And so, at times, God’s hope-filled word, challenges and rebukes us.

Sometimes this might hurt. Sometimes we might feel offended by the Bible. But whenever this is the case, we need to ask ourselves, do we believe that the one who breathed this out is on our side? That He is for us and not against us? That He knows what’s best for us better than we could know for ourselves?

You see, allowing scripture to challenge and rebuke us really comes down to whether we trust God or not. If we trust Him maybe our posture will begin to turn from bending Scripture to fit our agenda, to bending ourselves to align with God’s will.

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Question:

When did you last feel personally rebuked or challenged by Scripture?

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you that your word speaks life-giving hope to me. Help me to submit myself to your way even when it might feel uncomfortable, trusting that you really do know best. Amen.