“ALL SCRIPTURE!”

2 Timothy 3:16-4:2                             (ESV)

“16 “ALL SCRIPTURE” is breathed out by GOD and profitable for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, and for TRAINING in righteousness,

17 that the man of GOD may be COMPLETE, EQUIPPED for every good work.

1 I charge you in the presence of GOD and of CHRIST JESUS, WHO is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS appearing and HIS kingdom:

2 PREACH THE WORD; be ready in season and out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT, with COMPLETE PATIENCE and TEACHING.” 

Certain people are gifted by GOD with an understanding that Colossians 1:17, which says “And HE (JESUS) is before all things, and in HIM ALL THINGS hold together”, is more than a memory verse to be used when our path becomes troubled.  “ALL SCRIPTURE” has been written for around two thousand years, so we don’t have the excuse that we didn’t know that it should be adhered to!  Even former President Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying “Within the covers of the BIBLE are the answers for ALL THE PROBLEMS men face."  I trust you are noticing that common word ALL that has been used in these three instances???

ALL THINGS, “ALL SCRIPTURE”, and ALL THE PROBLEMS are just a few occurrences that use the word ALL.  One dictionary describes the word ALL as “Being the utmost possible of; or representing the total extent or the whole”.  Our CREATOR says that “ALL SCRIPTURE” is breathed out by HIM to “TEACH, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, and for TRAINING in righteousness, that the man of GOD may be COMPLETE, EQUIPPED for every good work”.  “ALL SCRIPTURE” means the entire BIBLE, not just what verses we select to get us through a difficult time of our lives.  

Using “ALL SCRIPTURE” to COMPLETE us, to round off our rough edges, to bake our dough until we are perfected, and is EQUIPPING us to be used by GOD to Glorify HIS NAME!  We ARE going to go through some “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT, with COMPLETE PATIENCE and TEACHING”, but it is to Glorify HIM, just as JESUS prayed in John 17:4.  Sure, we ALL desire to experience a life free of trials and tribulations, but as JESUS prayed in Luke 22:42b “....Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." We are here to endure our time on earth for HIS GLORY, not to build the largest church and NOT TO EDIFY OURSELVES.  

“ALL SCRIPTURE” is not just the answer to ALL problems facing mankind today,  it is the answer to LIFE!  The book of John says “HE must increase, but I must decrease." When we “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT, with COMPLETE PATIENCE and TEACHING”, we are getting closer to decreasing ourselves.  The more I think on things that center on me, the less I am able to think on things related to HIM.  HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to lose myself in the things of the SPIRIT and allow YOU to use “ALL SCRIPTURE” to edify YOUR KINGDOM!!!