In previous Chaplain’s Corner emails, I have emphasized reading the Bible as the most important thing we can do to grow spiritually besides prayer.  This is because the Bible is God’s Word revealed to us.  You may say, rightly so, that God can speak to us in other ways.  In a recent Daily Hope devotional, Rick Warren wrote that God also speaks to us through teachers and through circumstances.

He writes:  “Have you ever been in a church service and felt like the teacher was delivering a direct message from God to you? There’s no way I or any other teacher could figure out exactly what to say to meet every need. But God knows. So before every service I pray, ‘God, you know the people and the needs out there. Give me the right things to say.’ Somehow, in the way only he can, God uses my teaching and the teaching of other pastors to meet the needs of people who are listening.”  And regarding circumstances, Rick says, “If you’re going to live a life of significance, God has to make constant course corrections, and one way he does that is through the circumstances that come into your life.”

While I agree that God speaks to us through teachers and circumstances, I believe we should always examine the teaching from these resources and circumstances to be sure they align with the Scriptures.  In short, the Bible is the benchmark, the standard by which all other teaching is compared.  Even when we believe that the Holy Spirit it speaking to us, know that the Holy Spirit will never contradict what is in the Bible.  As a disciple committed to spiritual growth and living the abundant life, it is essential to be in the Word, regularly and intentionally, so that we can recognize the truth when we hear it, and the false teachers when we hear them.

• Read your Bible according to a plan
• Participate in Bible Studies
• Meditate on the Scriptures

So, in summary be like the Berean Jews that Luke writes about in the book of Acts, and test everything through God’s Word as written in the Bible.  I am confident that  you will be blessed beyond measure if you do.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalms 119:105)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

Blessings,

Judy