IS IT A CASE OF SELF HELP OR HELP SELF?
Truth for Christian Living
Bookstores are bursting with self-help books, most of which are products or byproducts of the psychology industry. Requests for books to help with this or that problem abound, as if there is one special book, other than the Bible, that can do the trick. Self-help books promise way more than they supply. However, there is one book that supplies exactly what it promises. The Bible is the book that reveals God’s Truth for Christian living...
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. -2 Pet 1:3-4.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. -2 Pet 1:3-4.
The Bible is the source of truth for Christian living. God has given us His Word, which is the truth about Himself, the universe, and mankind. He has given us His truth concerning life and eternity. The Bible gives us truth that reveals the way of salvation for sinners, the way of sanctification and spiritual growth for believers, and the hope of eternity with Jesus. As believers follow God’s truth, they find love, joy, and peace, as well as purpose and direction for serving God and one another.
If you are looking for truth about God, about yourself, about others, and about how to relate to one another, you will find that truth in the Bible. If you find it elsewhere, it can be traced back to the Bible if it is indeed true. However, if you find something that looks like God’s truth outside the Bible, it has very likely been contaminated with opinion and is no longer God’s truth. Therefore, go to the source, the very Word of God, for all you need to live in a manner pleasing to Him.
Besides going to the written source of truth, go further in to the very source of the written truth. Jesus has given us access into the heavenly realm so that we can go directly to the Father. With the written Word of God and in the very presence of God, we can gain His perspective on any situation in which we find ourselves. As we search His Word and seek His will, we will find both His wisdom and His will.
We enter His presence and find His Truth through praying, reading and studying His Word, thanking Him, praising Him, worshiping Him, serving Him, and fellowshipping with His other children. These are the powerful means He has given. However, for many professing Christians these have become trivialized clichés, meaningless words that they have heard many times but failed to follow diligently and consistently.
Nevertheless, these are the ways God has graciously provided both for living the Christian life and for being changed into the likeness of Jesus for eternity.
If you are looking for truth about God, about yourself, about others, and about how to relate to one another, you will find that truth in the Bible. If you find it elsewhere, it can be traced back to the Bible if it is indeed true. However, if you find something that looks like God’s truth outside the Bible, it has very likely been contaminated with opinion and is no longer God’s truth. Therefore, go to the source, the very Word of God, for all you need to live in a manner pleasing to Him.
Besides going to the written source of truth, go further in to the very source of the written truth. Jesus has given us access into the heavenly realm so that we can go directly to the Father. With the written Word of God and in the very presence of God, we can gain His perspective on any situation in which we find ourselves. As we search His Word and seek His will, we will find both His wisdom and His will.
We enter His presence and find His Truth through praying, reading and studying His Word, thanking Him, praising Him, worshiping Him, serving Him, and fellowshipping with His other children. These are the powerful means He has given. However, for many professing Christians these have become trivialized clichés, meaningless words that they have heard many times but failed to follow diligently and consistently.
Nevertheless, these are the ways God has graciously provided both for living the Christian life and for being changed into the likeness of Jesus for eternity.
No man-made system or psychological self-help book can make a person like Jesus or enable one to live with Him eternally. Only the Bible reveals the way to live in the now and in the forever.
posted by John @ 11:30 AM
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