God has revealed himself in His creation. The world around us shows that He exists. It reveals His power, wisdom and goodness. God has given man a conscience to know right from wrong. Because we can see His work in nature, we have no excuse for not believing in Him (See Romans 1:20). But nature and conscience by themselves do not reveal God to us enough to save us from sin and know His will.
The human mind can’t understand God by itself. Sin changed our heart and will. Because of our rebellious sinful nature, we do not have the natural moral ability to respond to God without His help (1 Corinthians 2:14). We need God to speak to us and help us obey Him.
God has spoken in different ways throughout history. In Old Testament times, He spoke through His prophets. The Scriptures were the recorded revelation of God to His people. But the Old Testament was not the complete revelation of God. Man could not know God truly and fully until His Son came to earth. Jesus came to reveal to us what God the Father is like. Philip, one of Jesus’ followers, said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus replied, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8,9). Jesus Christ is the Living Word ... He was God in human form (see John 1:1-14, Philippians 2:6,7).
The Book of Hebrews says, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (1:1,2).
After Jesus came, died, rose from death and ascended to heaven, God the Holy Spirit inspired the New Testament writers to record and explain His life and teachings and the apostles’ lives and teachings to the first Christians.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us “into all truth” (see John 16:13). The Holy Spirit helps us understand the truth beyond our natural ability. The apostle John said, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth” (1 John 2:20, NIV).
The Bible provides evidence in itself that it is God’s Word. But a person is thoroughly persuaded of the Bible’s divine authority through an inward work of the Holy Spirit, as He convinces our hearts of the truth.
When we read the Bible, we are not just reading history and teaching. God personally reveals himself to us as He did to the first readers of His Word. Jesus, the living Word, is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.
Let the first thoughts that come into your mind each day be from God's Word.
Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:56 pm by 
Subject: Spiritual Food 
