Yes it is.
It is all in there. Everything one can possibly come across in life is addressed in the Bible. This fact is even confirmed in 2 Peter 1:3: "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,"
So whatever may be the situation/dilemma you are facing, I encourage you to turn to the Bible in Christ. I can assure you, your answer/solution will be right there waiting for you. I will like to share a few of those really practical verses that stunned me when I first came across them. I was like, o my gosh, so this is in the Bible?! Then why is the church still arguing about it? Or why is the church not doing it?
1 John 2:27: "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."
When we get born-again the Holy Spirit comes to live in us to enable us walk the new life of holiness we have been called to. That same Holy Spirit is also our teacher and counselor. This verse struck a chord for me because it is quite evident that we Christians are getting lazier by the day. We all want to be spoon-fed by a preacher on Sunday morning and the irony is we expect that "meal" to sustain us for the rest of the week. If we do not regularly spend time in prayer and Bible study, how do we expect to be taught by the Holy Spirit? This verse also addresses those situations/churches where the preacher's word is considered law. If one is really learning from the Holy Spirit, one cannot fall victim to the schemes and lies of false prophets. When a lie is spoken, even if it is spoken from a pulpit, it is immediately obvious to you because the Truth lives in you.
Acts 17:11: "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
This verse somehow supports my last statement. Just because "it" is said in church does not mean "it" is true. If something does not sit right with me, I go home and check it out for myself in the Bible. Just like the Christians at Berea did. I believe every Christian should do same. This is not to say that the preacher is useless, of course leadership in the church was appointed by God for a reason. As exemplified by Paul, Peter and the other preachers in the Bible, they were called to serve, encourage and be an example to the church. Compare these self-sacrificing men to many who occupy the pulpits nowadays; the difference is obvious.
Romans 9:19-21: "You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it "Why have you made me like this? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?"
Oh I love this one especially because of how I first came across it. It was a few years ago, not too long after I became born-again when I had a small crisis. I started asking questions like; if one only comes to accept Jesus by the power of God, why does God not go ahead and MAKE everyone come to Jesus and become born-again? Because no one can resist the will of God right? As I pondered questions of this sort, one day I opened my Bible randomly and immediately fell on this passage. It definitely shifted things into perspective. God IS GOD. His greatness and significance is so far above mine that it is ridiculous to question Him. It is ridiculous to expect to understand Him. Can the vast waters of the oceans be contained in a bucket?
1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"
Peter tells us in to be ready to explain, with humility and love, the reason for the hope that we have in us. This verse is obviously a call to evangelism. Something most of us Christians shy away from especially in today's world where Christians are intimidated. The "fear" referred to at the end of the verse is the "fear of God", because the passage ends with; "it is better to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil". What is evil? Failure to stand up for your faith. If I fear God, I will boldly declare my faith in Jesus and I will ALWAYS BE READY to do so. What is the reason for the hope that is in me? "My hope is an eternity with Jesus. No more sorrow, no more pain just everlasting joy worshiping our Father. All this made possible by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose death and resurrection I believe in." That will be it in a few words. What is yours?
Proverbs 29:15: "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."
Of course we cannot end this post without something from good ol' Proverbs. Definitely the most practical book in the Bible. I choose this verse because of a trend that is picking up real fast in modern society; parents who are scared of their kids. This ugly trend is even becoming more and more prominent in African societies (thanks to globalization). Well, I am very sure many of us know of situations where a spoiled a child has turned out to bring only heartache to his/her parents. In our African societies especially, most of these "heartaches" come with disgrace. There is truth in this verse. How did we become so scared of children? This fear is even masked as love nowadays, and as such many children grow up not being punished for wrong behavior. Let us not hesitate to correct our children, God Himself said it is only out of love that a father corrects his children (Hebrews 12:6).
These are just a few of the numerous passages in the Bible there to guide us as we navigate life in this world as Christians. Let us not let laziness and distraction keep us from leading better lives through these words of wisdom. I know it is easier said than done, trust me. But I also know we serve a God whose grace is sufficient...He is always there so that we do have to do it on our own.
Blessings.
It is all in there. Everything one can possibly come across in life is addressed in the Bible. This fact is even confirmed in 2 Peter 1:3: "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,"
So whatever may be the situation/dilemma you are facing, I encourage you to turn to the Bible in Christ. I can assure you, your answer/solution will be right there waiting for you. I will like to share a few of those really practical verses that stunned me when I first came across them. I was like, o my gosh, so this is in the Bible?! Then why is the church still arguing about it? Or why is the church not doing it?
1 John 2:27: "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."
When we get born-again the Holy Spirit comes to live in us to enable us walk the new life of holiness we have been called to. That same Holy Spirit is also our teacher and counselor. This verse struck a chord for me because it is quite evident that we Christians are getting lazier by the day. We all want to be spoon-fed by a preacher on Sunday morning and the irony is we expect that "meal" to sustain us for the rest of the week. If we do not regularly spend time in prayer and Bible study, how do we expect to be taught by the Holy Spirit? This verse also addresses those situations/churches where the preacher's word is considered law. If one is really learning from the Holy Spirit, one cannot fall victim to the schemes and lies of false prophets. When a lie is spoken, even if it is spoken from a pulpit, it is immediately obvious to you because the Truth lives in you.
Acts 17:11: "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
This verse somehow supports my last statement. Just because "it" is said in church does not mean "it" is true. If something does not sit right with me, I go home and check it out for myself in the Bible. Just like the Christians at Berea did. I believe every Christian should do same. This is not to say that the preacher is useless, of course leadership in the church was appointed by God for a reason. As exemplified by Paul, Peter and the other preachers in the Bible, they were called to serve, encourage and be an example to the church. Compare these self-sacrificing men to many who occupy the pulpits nowadays; the difference is obvious.
Romans 9:19-21: "You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it "Why have you made me like this? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?"
Oh I love this one especially because of how I first came across it. It was a few years ago, not too long after I became born-again when I had a small crisis. I started asking questions like; if one only comes to accept Jesus by the power of God, why does God not go ahead and MAKE everyone come to Jesus and become born-again? Because no one can resist the will of God right? As I pondered questions of this sort, one day I opened my Bible randomly and immediately fell on this passage. It definitely shifted things into perspective. God IS GOD. His greatness and significance is so far above mine that it is ridiculous to question Him. It is ridiculous to expect to understand Him. Can the vast waters of the oceans be contained in a bucket?
1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"
Peter tells us in to be ready to explain, with humility and love, the reason for the hope that we have in us. This verse is obviously a call to evangelism. Something most of us Christians shy away from especially in today's world where Christians are intimidated. The "fear" referred to at the end of the verse is the "fear of God", because the passage ends with; "it is better to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil". What is evil? Failure to stand up for your faith. If I fear God, I will boldly declare my faith in Jesus and I will ALWAYS BE READY to do so. What is the reason for the hope that is in me? "My hope is an eternity with Jesus. No more sorrow, no more pain just everlasting joy worshiping our Father. All this made possible by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose death and resurrection I believe in." That will be it in a few words. What is yours?
Proverbs 29:15: "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."
Of course we cannot end this post without something from good ol' Proverbs. Definitely the most practical book in the Bible. I choose this verse because of a trend that is picking up real fast in modern society; parents who are scared of their kids. This ugly trend is even becoming more and more prominent in African societies (thanks to globalization). Well, I am very sure many of us know of situations where a spoiled a child has turned out to bring only heartache to his/her parents. In our African societies especially, most of these "heartaches" come with disgrace. There is truth in this verse. How did we become so scared of children? This fear is even masked as love nowadays, and as such many children grow up not being punished for wrong behavior. Let us not hesitate to correct our children, God Himself said it is only out of love that a father corrects his children (Hebrews 12:6).
These are just a few of the numerous passages in the Bible there to guide us as we navigate life in this world as Christians. Let us not let laziness and distraction keep us from leading better lives through these words of wisdom. I know it is easier said than done, trust me. But I also know we serve a God whose grace is sufficient...He is always there so that we do have to do it on our own.
Blessings.