On the Importance of God's Word

  The Bible is the revealed Word of God to us. It's our guidebook for a happy, fulfilling life here on earth and how to hold onto God's gift of eternal life in Heaven after we leave here.
  The following are some passages from Scripture and other sources on the importance of reading and studying Scripture.
 

“All Christians must refer always and everywhere to Scripture for all their choices, becoming like children before it.  They should seek in it the most effective remedy against all their weaknesses and not dare take a step without being illumined by the divine rays of those words.”  Pope John Paul II

"A memory stored with Scripture is a bank that will never fail."

Your word I have hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word. Psalm 119:15-16

"In the Bible, God not only reveals Himself but also the path to happiness."
 St. Pope John Paul II

All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching--for reproof, correction, and training in holiness so that the man of God may be fully competent and equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

Indeed, God's Word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Divorce

It takes two to make a marriage,
but sometimes only one to break a marriage.

Don't judge; even in cases involving adultery.
You don't know what goes on behind closed doors.

  God's word in the Bible is the most important book ever written. It has many authors, but behind them all is the Author of Life. It's the main way God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind--who He is and His great love for his greatest creation--men and women.

  There is a book written by a man who had a near death experience, Didn't You Read My Book? by Dr. Richard E. Eby (available at Amazon). During this experience he asked God many questions. God responded by asking him "Didn't you read my book."

  God wants to reveal Himself to us, but do we really want to know Him? Or would we rather know as little as possible so we can go about living our lives as we please.

 

In the Lord's Economy, There Is No Retirement

  If you have given your life to God; if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; then there is no retirement.  When you accept Jesus as “Lord” of your life, it means you want to follow Him, His teachings and the guidance of His Holy Spirit in ordering your life and all that you say and do.
  Yes, you may retire from your job; you’re children may grow up and leave home,  but if you have given control of your life over to Jesus, He, through the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit living within you, will direct you to where He wants you to use your time and energy.
  I can find nothing in the New Testament of the Bible about anyone “retiring”.  Retirement is a very new development in the history of man, coming after the Industrial Revolution.  Before then, all but the very wealthy had to work to continue to support themselves as long as they were able. When they became too old to support themselves, their families supported them.  Women kept the households running--cooking, cleaning, washing, etc.-- which only ended when they were too old or disabled.  When their children were grown, they helped care for their grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
  The whole idea of retirement as a time when a person can do what they want, when they want, enjoy life and recreate is contrary to Christianity and following Christ.  As Christians we are called to serve God through serving others, in the many and varied ways available to us and as we are led by the Holy Spirit.  We are not called to serve ourselves, our needs and our desires.
  Even if you become ill or disabled, as long as your mind is sound you can always pray for others.  “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” (Alfred Lord Tennyson)  Prayer changes things.  Prayer is ministering to others, not temporally, but spiritually.  Prayer has no walls, no boundaries.  There is so much need for prayer warriors in this world.  You can pray for your family, your neighbors, your friends; the people at your church; your senators and representatives, your country, persecuted Christians, the whole world! 
  So as long as you have life and breath, you are a servant of the Lord.  Your life is not your own.

The Power of God's Word

  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent. Humbly welcome the Word that has taken root in you, with its power to save your soul.  James 1:21

God’s Word in the Bible, implanted in a person, is like a pacemaker.  The pacemaker is implanted in the chest to regulate the heart and protect someone from death.  God’s Word implanted in us protects us from spiritual death.  When the heart beats irregularly, the pacemaker regulates it.  When we are tempted to sin, God’s Word warns us of danger to our souls.