Steven A. Bush - October 20, 2019
God's Word--Whole and Unabridged
As Paul was concluding his third missionary journey and bound for Jerusalem, he had a tearful farewell get-together with elders from the church in Ephesus. Among his pastoral exhortations, he declares in Acts 20:26-27: "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." (ESV) In other words, Paul preached and taught the essentials of Scripture, without omissions, drilling down on the Gospel, and all this while the NT was under construction. And because of Paul's faithfulness to do so, the believers in Ephesus were not only well fed and equipped, but nourished to the core. God's Word is all about Him but was written just for us. It has something to say about everything. It is trust-worthy. It is powerful. It supersedes the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of all mankind. It is saturated with His love, His mercy, and His grace. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 sums it up this way: "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." (ESV) This God-glorifying Book is a must-read, page-turning, life-changing Work like no other. It behooves us to devour it heartily and relish every morsel...