Our theme for August is the “Word of God.” Scriptures have been selected to ponder and consider that that will help remind us of its importance in our lives. Perhaps one of the more cited verses about scripture is found in Paul’s second letter to his frequent companion Timothy:

“And all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The phrase “inspiration of God” is a translation of the Greek word theopneustia. A more literal translation would be “God-breathed.”

In describing the usage of theopneustia Norman Geisler states; “The sacred Scriptures are all expressive of the mind of God. The sacred Scriptures are the ‘God-breathed’ revelation of God which result in their practical outworking in life.” (“A General Introduction to the Bible” by Norman Geisler and William Nix, page 34)

He further states; “So, in biblical terminology, inspiration is the process by which Spirit-moved writers recorded God-breathed writings.”

Commenting on the Greek word that is translated as “perfect” in the above passage from Timothy, E.W. Bullinger states: “This is another word which occurs only once, and again in reference to the Word of God. It is rendered ‘perfect,’ but it means fitted … [or] fitted out, as a vessel for a voyage, fully equipped, completely furnished. … One who studies man’s books will become a man of men; but he who studies God’s book will become ‘a man of God.” Moreover he will be equipped for every emergency, fitted out against every need, ready to meet every contingency; just as a vessel when fitted out for a long voyage has to be provided for calm and storm, ready to help a friend or defeat an enemy, prepared for fire and every accident, so the man of God, who truly profits by the study of Scriptures, is equipped and furnished, prepared and ready for every emergency.” (“Number in Scripture” by E.W. Bullinger, page 74)

God loves us so much that he sent His son to die to save us from our awful nature and sinful lives. He also loves us enough that he inspired holy men with His word and asked them to write it and carefully preserve it that we might clearly understand who He is and what he requires of us in our days of probation. The word of God teaches us and provides for us every needful thing for life’s journey.

We learn about where we came from and the different destinations that are available to us … some good and some not so good and that our mortal existence is not the end of our living. We learn how to deal and interact with each other, how to handle our gifts, talents and goods, and even guidance for our health is found in the Word of God.

We understand what our life’s work and mission ought to be, how the Church is to be put together and what its work and mission are and many other mysteries and wonders that are too numerous to attempt to enumerate here.

We are fortunate to have a corrected version of the Bible, the Book of Mormon as well as the latter-day “God-breathed” revelation of God as it is found in the Doctrine and Covenants. There are many great discourses in these three collections of the Word of God. Beginning in September, on the first Sunday evening of each month, two men will be asked to bring an expository sermon or talk on a particular selected discourse from the word of God. We will also be publishing in advance what passage of scripture will be used for a given evening. This will give everyone an opportunity to spend time in study, meditation and prayer about the passage prior to our evening of worship.

On the first Sunday evening in September we will be considering Alma 16:152-173 that begins “Now we will compare the word unto a seed.”

If we plant the word of God in our hearts we will find that we will be “fitted out” and “fully equipped” for life’s difficult and precarious journey.