Devotional: The Bible Says It

The Bible Says It

The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it!

Spend any amount of time around me and you are bound to hear me say that eventually. It was a discovery I made a long time ago. Notice I didn't say, "The Bible says it. I understand it all..." No, there's a difference between believing and understanding. Of course, the best scenario is to believe and understand, but that's not always going to be the case. So what will you choose when you don't understand? Will you reject it just because you don't understand it? Or will you make a conscious decision to believe God's Word while praying and waiting for understanding?

The Word of God is defined as divine communication in written form, which is why I have even gone so far as to write "Dear Daphne," in my Bible at Genesis 1:1. Why would I do that? Because I believe it is written to me; it is God speaking to me. "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89). "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). If this is true (and I believe it is) than why do so many doubt God's Word?

Over the years, I have taught many Bible Studies. I am amazed at the number of people who have said to me, "We didn't believe that part of the Bible when I was growing up." That astounds me! How can you not believe one part of scripture, but then put your faith in Romans 10:9-10 which tells us how to receive salvation!?! If I have doubt concerning ANY part of God's Word, then it seems a seed of doubt would be sown in my heart concerning ALL of God's Word!

I believe this is why Paul prayed for the church to have "...wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:17-18). The Word of God has been compared to a mystery. Yet the scriptures declare that God doesn't want it to remain a mystery to us. So, it is only logical that portions will be hard to understand, but only until understanding is given. But how will I ever receive understanding if I have already made a decision not to believe it? I have to make a heart-decision at the get-go that if the Bible says it, I believe it and that settles it! There is no other choice for me.

In thinking along these lines, I've often wondered why others don't believe the same way I do. Why aren't children taught (and convinced) that God's Word is our final authority? I remember a conversation I had once with new lady who had started attending our church (and later became a good friend). One evening, at the end of one of our Bible Study classes, she said to me, "Daphne, I've been raised in church my whole life. We never missed. Why was I never taught these things?" (I knew she had come from a certain denomination and that she and her husband had made the decision to find a church together. That was how she came to be at my church.) Probably only a few seconds passed as I pondered exactly how I was going to answer her. My thoughts were, "I don't know why churches don't teach and believe all of God's Word." But before I could answer her, SHE answered her own question with something I now believe was inspired by the Holy Spirit. She said, "You know, I just don't think people want that much of God."

Wow. I believe she was right. It's not that people don't love God, but the more you learn the more you are accountable for. If we've been taught the Word of God, or simply just read it for ourselves, than we now have to do something with that knowledge. On the day of judgement we will be without excuse. "To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). It's kind of like the old Snickers candy bar commercial where a long line of people were waiting to get into heaven but were being held up by someone at the front of the line making excuses. The commercial passed out candy bars and said, "Going to be here awhile?" That may be funny, but I don't think that's how it's going to be for us! I can picture someone trying to pull out an excuse with God, only for Him to push a button which then replays exactly where they were the moment they either heard the preacher teach them the Word or they read it for themself only to decide they didn't believe it. "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are..." (Romans 2:1).

Paul said, "But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:20-21). The Bible says in John, Chapter One, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1,14). We can conclude from this passage that Jesus is the Word. Therefore, Paul was trying to say, "But you have not so learned {the Word}, if indeed you have heard {the Word} and have been taught {the Word}, as the truth is in {the Word}." Isn't that right? Of course it is!

We are encouraged to believe God's Word because it is "...life to those who find {it} and health to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:22). It is "...more than our necessary food" (Job 23:12). When hidden in our heart, God's Word keeps us from sinning (Psalm 119:11). And one of my most favorite reasons for embracing God's Word as truth in every situation is because He promises that His Word will not return void to Him! "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" (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Hallelujah! That's good enough for me. I want to have complete confidence in God's Word. There is nothing worse than to doubt someone's word, wondering if they are telling the truth or not. I don't want to live this life in Christ always wondering. So I pray for understanding when I don't understand, but I always believe whether I understand it or not. The Bible say it. I believe it. That settles it!