Day 24 of the 40 Days of Purpose

“Transformed by Truth”

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God.

(Eph 6:17 NIV) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Heb 4:12 NIV) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word of God provides the nourishment we need for this growth process (see Psalm 119).

(1 Pet 1:22-2:3 NIV) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. {23} For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. {24} For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, {25} but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. {2:1} Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. {2} Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, {3} now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

It is useful for training us to be the workers God needs for the Kingdom.

(2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, {17} so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

That today’s chapter points us to looking to the Bible as our final authority with Jesus as the Head of the Church is not a new concept to our heritage. It is the foundation to our “restoration plea.” “Back to the Bible” is still a valid direction for our churches, and it is the right direction for true discipleship to become like Christ.