Finish Line Faith, 9: We need nourishment only the Bible provides

By Matt Proctor*

What you put into your mind will determine who you become. It’s true spiritually as well as physically: You are what you eat.

That’s why Scripture uses the image of eating as a metaphor for Bible intake (see Ezekiel 3:3; Psalm 119:103; Jeremiah 15:16; 1 Peter 2:2; Deuteronomy 8:3; Hebrews 5:12).

But can you truly say, as Job did in Job 23:12, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread”?

Perhaps you have lost your hunger, and you need to hear the reasons Paul gives Timothy (see 3:14) to “continue” in the Scriptures:

Scripture nourishes because it’s from God.

The Scriptures are “God-breathed”—so fresh from his mouth you can still catch the scent of his breath on the pages. The Bible is like no other book. All other literature originates on this planet, but the Bible comes to us from outside our sphere of existence. It is literally from heaven.

The unity of these authors—some 40 writers on three continents in three different languages over the course of 1,500 years all telling the same story—points to Scripture’s divine origin.

The humanity of these authors points to God’s relational purpose. God stooped to speak to us through people like us—in understandable human language—so he could establish relationship with us.

Through Scripture, God allows us to get inside his head, read his mail, eavesdrop on his heavenly council chamber, see the world through his eyes, and hear his most personal thoughts. Such behind-the-scenes access to the Creator of the universe is nothing less than an invitation to know him.

Scripture nourishes because it’s about Christ.

The Scriptures point to Jesus. Paul reminds Timothy that the Scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (3:15). At this point Timothy only had the Old Testament, but those 39 books were written to predict, prepare for, and describe the coming Messiah.

In John 5:39 Jesus said, “The very Scriptures . . . testify about me.” In Luke 24:27 the resurrected Christ took the Emmaus travelers on a journey through the entire Bible, explaining to them “what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Scripture nourishes because it’s for us.

What I mean is, the Scriptures are for our good. They teach us how to live what Bible teacher John Ortberg calls “the life you always wanted.”

In 3:16 (as Warren Wiersbe puts it in his Bible Exposition Commentary), Paul tells Timothy that Scripture is useful for:

• Teaching: telling us what’s right
• Rebuking: telling us what’s not right
• Correcting: telling us how to get right
• Training in righteousness: telling us how to stay right

I’m confident that anyone who reads the Bible regularly will find that, over time, their lives are transformed. Bible reading is not like drinking caffeine—that instant jolt to get you through the next few hours. It’s more like taking vitamins—strengthening you with greater health over the long haul.

As we meditate on Scripture, we slowly become people marked by goodness, joy, courage, patience, and wisdom. When you pick up a Bible, you’re not just holding 12 ounces of paper, ink, and glue. You’re holding the possibility of a whole new life.

Especially for Caregivers

• ˙How has your Bible reading been impacted as you have taken up the role of caregiver? Are you reading it more or less? Why?
• Write down several Scriptures that have become even more meaningful to you because of what you’re facing.
• What is one possibility you could try for finding more time for regular Scripture reading?—M.T.

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Pray: Show me your will, show me your presence, show me the strength only you provide, Lord, as I open your Word this week.

* This devotion is adapted with permission from a new book by Matt Proctor, president of Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri) (c) 2024. Finish Line Faith is a 12-week study of 2 Timothy perfect for any group or Bible study, and this devotion gives only a taste of the down-to-earth encouragement it provides. Click here for information on ordering copies for yourself or your group.