Wednesday, June 29
Complete and equipped
Scripture: Song of Songs 5-6, 2 Timothy 3
2 Timothy 3:14–17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Observation
The Scriptures will make you “complete, equipped for every good work.” To be complete (GK: artios) meant that you were thoroughly trained, qualified and competent, capable and fit for the task. To be equipped (GK: exartizo—same Greek root word as complete) meant that you were completely adequate, fully equipped and qualified. The second word is an intensified form of the first.
The Scriptures will make you complete, fully equipped “for every good work.” This is the same phrase exactly as in 2 Timothy 2:21, where Paul says that if we purify ourselves, we will be prepared “for every good work.” In that verse, we get rid of what holds us back; in today’s verse we take in the good word of God. Out with the old, in with the new, and we will be fully prepared and equipped for every good work.
Application
Yesterday I asked: Is there “anything dishonorable” from which I need to purify myself? Is there anything that is compromising my usefulness to God? Anything that keeps me from being prepared for every good work? Get rid of that.
Today is about building God’s word into my life. Add that. I want to be equipped and ready for every good work, to do the things God wants me to do. I need the Holy Spirit—God’s presence and power in me. And I need the Word to transform my mind and equip me.
Want to be a better spouse or parent? Fill up on God’s word and let it equip you.
Want to be a better employer or employee? Fill up on God’s word and let it equip you.
Want to be a better person, a better Christian, someone who changes the world? Fill up on God’s word and let it equip you.
This promise—that Scripture will equip us for every good work—should motivate us to get into God’s word and let it transform us.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for this promise. Let it motivate me to be a man of God’s word, complete and fully equipped for every good work.