A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t: Part 2Sample

Five Ways God’s Word Is a Gift

If you're going to anchor your soul to something that never changes, then you need to treat God's Word as a gift. The Bible says, "Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession" (James 1:17-18 NLT).

James says five important things about God’s Word in this passage.

1. God's Word is good.
It’s for your benefit. If you're not reading the Bible, you're missing all the promises, instruction, and benefits God wants to give you.

2. God's Word is perfect.
It's a “perfect gift." If it's perfect, it means it's infallible. There's no error in it. You can count on it. And, if it’s perfect, that means it's exactly what you need.

3. God's Word is true.
It says, "his true word." Scripture will always tell you the right thing to do. It will never lead you in the wrong direction. It's always correct. Its truth will set you free!

4. God's Word is unchanging.
The Bible says God never changes, and so his Word never changes. Some of the gifts you get in life wear out—they fade, rust, and break down. You can't always depend on them, but you can always depend on God’s Word.

5. God's Word is life-giving.
James says, "God decided to give us life through the word of truth” (James 1:18 GW). You were made in God's image, which means you have the ability to love God and be loved by him. God created you and gave you his Word so you can know him. This is the only way to true life.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the encouragement taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope" (Romans 15:4 NIV). Everything in the Bible was written to give you hope, even the parts you may not understand.

The one thing you may need most right now—encouragement—is in this book.

Have you been feeling discouraged? There is great hope, and it’s at your fingertips. Just open up your Bible!

Talk It Over

• Do you have a hard time believing the Bible is for your benefit? What can you do to deepen your understanding of how the story of God’s Word applies to your life?
• In what ways are you treating God’s Word as a gift? What priority does it have in your life?
• How can you encourage someone with God’s Word today?

This devotional © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.