Allow God’s Word to Reprove Us
Your Nightly Prayer for Feb. 18, 2025
By Lynette Kittle
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” -2 Timothy 4:2
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Why are individuals, groups, congregations, and denominations rewriting what the word of God teaches, changing and watering it down, trying to make it powerless and ineffective in our lives?
Some doing so justify their revisions by saying and making a case that it’s irrelevant in today’s world, outdated, and doesn’t apply to us anymore. They assert and argue that times have changed, but God assures us in Malachi 3:6 that even if times change, He doesn’t ever change.
Still, John 1:14 describes how Jesus is the Word. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Likewise, Hebrews 13:8 explains, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Unlike the words of men and women, God’s word is timeless and will always and eternally produce what is good and doesn’t ever become archaic or powerless. As Isaiah 40:8 assures us, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
As well, Isaiah 55:10-11 explains, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Because the Bible has the power to reprove us, meaning correct us, it addresses and confronts us when our activities, thoughts, and more are sinful and out of alignment with God’s word. It causes us to be uncomfortable and brings us to a point where we either agree with God or choose to stay in disobedience.
So it isn’t hard to understand why there are so many people working to change what it says, rewriting the words with their own reasoning and will, making it comfortable for them to live the lifestyles and ways they choose without feeling remorse.
But for those who truly love God, we want His word to keep us on track, to help us to submit to God and His will for our lives. This comes when we allow God to correct, rebuke, and encourage us through His word, the Bible, studying it and applying it daily to our lives.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Dear Father,
Thank you for Jesus, the Word, who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that Your word stands forever, never changing or losing its power to correct, rebuke, and encourage us. Strengthen us to hold fast to it, staying true to following You and to Your word. Lead us in studying Your word and applying it daily to our lives so that we are able to distinguish between Your truth and a lie. Keep us from being misled by those who are at work to rewrite it. Give us wisdom and courage to point out when it’s being compromised or altered. Awaken us to recognize when others are trying to lead us astray and away from You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Are we trying to change God’s word to fit our situation, or are we allowing His word to change us?
2. Can you think of a time when reading or hearing God’s word redirected your life in some way, perhaps changed the activities you were involved with, or changed your mindset about some of the choices you were making?
3. Are you aware of someone who is being misled by those who are rewriting God’s word? If so, are you willing to pray for them and maybe even speak to them concerning the truth of the Bible?
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Lukas Robertson
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!
Originally published Tuesday, 18 February 2025.
SHARE
