Let me persuade you to cling to two treasures of ministry.
First, the amazing Bible we hold so dear. The Bible is simply Inspired, capital I. It’s the only human document to ever hold that distinction. Inspired simply tells us God was in control of the very thoughts, pens, and vocabulary of each author. Because of its unique origin it is set apart from every other document in the world.
Because of its origin we hold the Bible above our heads and allow it to mold our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. It gets to define us as individuals; it gets to define good and bad, right and wrong, moral and immoral behavior; it gets to define our world, our home, and our ministry. It is the supreme authority and trumps all philosophical thought, all social science paradigms, and all cultural values. All that is good, holy, and right is determined within its pages. We do not hold the Bible below us, giving us the right to define it and determine its truth and relevance in our lives.
Hold the Bible in the highest esteem. Know it, study it, meditate on it, memorize it. Value it as the supreme document of all of human history.
Secondly, seek to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit. Strive to live your everyday existence in His presence and power. Start and end your day in surrender to His filling. Learn the skill of tapping into the fruit of God’s character listed for us in Galatians 5:22-23. Let His fruit guide your relationships at home, at church, and in your neighborhood. Be quick to confess sin and accept His cleansing. Learn to hear His convicting voice, whether that voice encourages you to witness to a neighbor, help the homeless person on the corner, or be temperate when you want to unleash words or attitudes that will only grieve Him and hurt the cause of Christ.
Fight to the death to preserve the supremacy of the Bible, the deity of our Lord, and the kingdom called His ‘church’. But while engaging in that battle, fight with gentleness, kindness, and patience; knowing that God and His word can defend themselves and that they will prevail for all time.
Cling to the Bible; walk in the Spirit’s control. These two treasures will guide you through the greatest adventure life can know; walking as a proud follower of Jesus Christ.
Blessings
Phil