“Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17, CEB)

The Apostle Paul, a missionary in the first generation of the church, wrote these words in a letter to a young protégé in ministry named Timothy. Paul’s words, now considered holy Scripture themselves in the Church, share the foundational reason for importance of the Word.

Salvation: “…the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.”  Through the living Word of God, the Holy Spirit convicts, invites, guides, and woos us to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.  Passages like Romans 5:6-8, 6:23, and John 3:16 are just a few examples.

Growing in Faith: “Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character…”  The Word both instructs and challenges us to grow in faith and into living a life of faith.  I can’t think of a better example than Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew 5-7. 

Leads to God and Good: “…so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.”  The Word is our primary means of grace, a way God meets us and changes us for God’s good purposes.  Psalm 23 is a passage of Scripture that continues to bring the people into God’s presence in almost any circumstance of life. 

May you and I be in the Word in ways that lead to all of things and more!