(Part 1)
“During that time the devil came and
said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of
bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do
not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”-Matthew
4:3-4
Do you live by
every word that comes from the mouth of God? This passage caused me to reflect
this week. In order to live, I must receive and respond to every word that
comes from the mouth of God. I had to ask myself a question that really
everyone reading this column has to answer for themselves. The answer to that
question will dictate how you live. That question is this: Is God’s Word the
absolute authority in my life?
The word
authority means: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce
obedience.
I believe that
for most Christians the Word of God only amounts to a strong influence in their
life. There are a few that may let it rise to a place of limited authority,
however how many can honestly say that they live by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God?
It begs the
question, does the Word of God simply inform our life or does it instruct our
life? Here is a great test to start with: If you do not pick up your Bible everyday
to look to the Word of God for instruction, then most likely you have not given
the Word of God complete jurisdiction over your soul.
If you feel
you have the right, the power and the preference to reject what you are being
instructed by someone, then that person is not a recognized authority in your
life. They may be in a position of
authority over you, but you are not recognizing it by how you live and respond
to them. Be certain of this, there are consequences for rejecting authority
that has been placed over you, should you decide not to recognize it. The fact
that you don’t receive God’s Word as an authority in your life doesn’t change
the fact that God’s Word is an authority over you life.
“Your
eternal Word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.”-Psalm 119:89
Could someone
look at your life and say with any certainty that the Word of God is an
authority in your life? For the Word of God to be an authority, you first have
to believe that they are actually God’s Words:
“All
Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make
us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and
teaches us to do what is right.”-2 Timothy 3:16
When we
receive God’s Word, as the very word of God, it will affect the way that we
live. However, if we choose to be selective regarding what we will receive and
respond to, then we will bear the consequences of choosing to step outside the
protection and direction of God’s authority.
Pastor Scott
Burr
Dayspring
Community Church
