Topic: The Bible: God’s Owner’s Manual for Life [RICK WARREN Devotional 24 April 2020]

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The Bible: God’s Owner’s Manual for Life

“The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work.”

2 Timothy 3:17 (PHILLIPS)Having the right equipment is often the difference between success and failure. To insert a screw, a carpenter doesn’t use a knife. When you’re under anesthesia, you don’t want your surgeon using a chainsaw. A climber on Mount Everest won’t use dollar store equipment.

Professionals are picky about using the right equipment as they know it can be dangerous if they aren’t.

Life can be dangerous, too, so it’s essential that you use the right equipment.

One of those pieces of equipment is the Bible. It’s like God’s owner’s manual for your life. Like any good owner’s manual, the Bible gives you instructions and you can consult it when you need help.

Second Timothy 3:17 says, “The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work” (PHILLIPS).

There are four simple reasons you need the Bible:

1. To help you know God. Nature shows us how God is powerful, creative, and organized, and how he likes variety. But God reveals many other things about himself through the Bible. To know what God is like, we need the Bible.
2. To teach you the truth. In this age of truth decay, who are you going to trust? Politicians? Twitter? The media? Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 TLB). When God speaks through the Bible, he offers eternal truth that you can count on.
3. To show you how to live. The Bible is God’s big instruction book. It includes the guidance you need to make life work.
4. To give you spiritual strength. God will always give you the power to do what he asks. You’ll find that power in the spiritual truth of his Word.

You never know what the day will bring you. But whatever it is, make sure you’re equipped with the Bible, God’s owner’s manual for life.

• Make a list of different ways you can get to know God. What do you learn about God in the Bible that you can’t learn anywhere else?
• The Bible was written thousands of years ago. Even so, how is it a more reliable manual for life than current sources like news media or your social media feed?
• The Bible gives you instructions, and you can consult it when you need help. Think of a problem or question you’re facing. Spend some time reading through the Bible with that situation in mind. See what God teaches you there.

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