​Pondering a recent conversation. “If we have the Holy Spirit who speaks to us, what is the true value of Scripture?” We read, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16).

Does the Holy Spirit supersede Scripture? If so, why do we continue to read it and does it really have value for us, today?

Two things come to mind.


First, when Paul encouraged Timothy about the value of Scripture, he was referring to the writings of the Tanakh (Jewish Bible, Old Testmaent). Not one New Testament epistle, prophetic word or gospel account had yet been declared “Scripture”.
 
Second, Jesus Himself demonstrated that the most important thing to share with others was the Old Testament Scriptures. On the Emmaus Road, “[And] beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27)

Based on this, I think it is very fair to say that the value of Scripture is the revelation of Jesus Christ. If we read Scripture, if we see Jesus, the Christ, in its pages it will be profitable. “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3).

Oswald Chambers says it this way, “And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3)”. (My Utmost for His Highest, January 31st)
 
Look to God. Look at God. See Him in the words of the Scripture. Allow the Spirit within you to reveal Him to you. Think (meditate) on all these things. Experience the profitability. Walk in the fruit. Repeat. 

​Often, we judge our walk with God. We look around and if we see troubles, we sense that He has left us and we are far from Him.
But this is not true.
What if there is an understanding of this life and its trials that brings peace?
 
Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 116:33).
 
Genesis 13:17
Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.

This land flowed with milk and honey. It was Abram’s inheritance, the Promise Land.
The land had mountains.
The land had valleys.
And we may find ourselves in each, and each is within the Promise Land.
 
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
 
The valley is in the shadow of death, not death itself.
Even this valley which invites fear was created by Him and everything He created is good.   
We can walk forward, through the darkness of the shadow, because we can trust Him.
 
We can walk across the mountains or the deepest valley knowing He created each place, each place is good and in each place, we have opportunity to practice trusting Him.

I was reminded of this today. Something God had shown me years ago as a new Christian wondering how it all worked and sensing that I was failing Him.
 
True story. We were driving through Arkansas and I was watching a herd of cows out my window. I’ve always thought they could just as easily be cardboard cutouts, because they never seemed to move. Well, just then, out of the corner of my eye I notice a “Momma” cow trucking quickly across a path. All the other critters are still cardboard characters except this other one tiny, baby calf. It is running after the Momma cow…sort of. The Momma cow is hoofing it and the calf is trying to keep up, trying to follow her. But you know how that goes. Baby calf takes a wobbly step or two and falls. Gets up and takes another few steps and falls. Then sees some clover and heads over to the clover to eat a bite. Then runs after momma, falling, and rolling down the hill. Baby calf gets up and shakes the dirt off and begins the trek up the hill to where Momma is now a bit of a distance away. The little one begins taking a few bold steps…a bite of clover…and a few more steps. Just then, the Momma cow stops, looks over her shoulder at the calf, and I don’t know if cows have lips or not, but the Momma cow smiled at the calf. Truly! Then I heard His still small voice, “It doesn’t matter if the calf gets off course or gets dirty or seems to be further separated from the Momma than at one time. The only thing that matters is that the calf is following after the Momma.”

​