All your words are true...(Psalm 119:160 NIV).

Certain childhood memories stay significantly in our minds throughout our lifetime. This one particularly stands out because it was my first encounter with a skeptic...who also happened to be my Sunday school teacher. I was around seven or eight when I asked my teacher if the Old Testament stories we'd been reading were true. The conversation went like this: "These stories about Adam and Eve, Noah and Moses...are they real? Did they really happen?"

I'll never forget his response. "Oh no. The aren't true. They are like fairy tales or myths. They're simply provided to teach us a lesson."

I tell you that story for a couple of reasons. First of all, be careful what you teach impressionable young children. You never know what memory you might create that will stay with them for a very long time! But more than that, we will be held responsible for our careless words.

Secondly, the Bible we are privileged to hold in our hands is the word of God...His complete truth for our lives. We are also responsible for correctly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and for using it the way the Lord intended for it to be used (2 Timothy 3:14-17):

• Showing the way to salvation
• Teaching or bringing instruction based on accurate interpretation
• Rebuking error in our own lives or that of other believers
• Correcting those faults, thereby making our journey through life a straight course
• Training us for maturity and right living in a world gone wrong

Only then can we be qualified and thoroughly equipped for every good work the Lord intends for us while walking on this earth.

We can't pick and choose in this Word what we want to believe and what we don't. What we will obey and what we won't. It's HIS Word and all true! Treasure it as you would precious jewels. Study it thoroughly. Become passionate about it. Pass it on to others. For this word is eternal...standing firm...through all generations (Psalm 119:89-90)! It is the secret for our success (Joshua 1:8).

-Peggy Forrest

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight (Psalm 119:35)!

© 2003 Kingdom Building Ministries.