Remarkably, because it’s living and active (cf. Hebrews 4:12), the Bible can do what no other book can do; it can renovate, renew, and refurbish your life! This is what the Bible can do for you:
Awaken your faith. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” Romans 10:17.
Transform your life. “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life” Deuteronomy 32:47.
Show you the way to salvation. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3:14-15.
Save your soul. “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” James 1:21.
Equip you to do what’s right and good. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Preserve you from sinning. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” Psalm 119:11.
Keep you on track. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” Psalm 119:150.
Give you wisdom and understanding. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding” Psalm 111:10.
Grow your faith. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” Romans 10:17.
Increase your intelligence. “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes” Psalm 119:98-99.
Be your counsellor. “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors” Psalm 119:24.
Offer guidance. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” Psalm 119:130.
Instruct you in righteousness. “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” Psalm 119:9.
Bring you success. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” Joshua 1:8.
Help you persevere. “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction” Psalm 19:92.
Give you joy. “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart” Psalm 19:8.
Provide peace and security. “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” Psalm 119:165.
Make you productive. “But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers” Psalm 1:2-3.
Fill you with hope. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” Romans 15:4.
Refresh and strengthen you. “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul” Psalm 19:7.
Nourish you. “The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life” John 6:63. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” Deuteronomy 8:3.
Prolong your life. “By them (God’s words) you will live long …” Deuteronomy 32:47b.
Bless all you do. “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do” James 1:25.
The Bible will also rebuke you when you step out of line (cf. Psalm 119:21), take honour away from you when you don’t follow the Scriptures wholeheartedly (cf. Psalm 119:80), cut through your selfishness to humble you (cf. Jeremiah 23:29), and judge the thoughts and attitudes of your heart (cf. Hebrews 4:12).
© Scripture Union Canada 2021