2000-08-23 - Supremacy of Scripture

Psalm 119:72 The word of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of Gold and silver.

I am taking a couple of Wednesdays for David and every once in a while I like to remind myself and everyone else about our foundation and standard of truth. It would be easy to look upon these devotionals as a substitute for reading and studying the Bible. However, this mindset is most harmful. There simply is no substitute for God's holy word and if you ever must choose between a devotional and Scripture, I urge you to always give the priority to Scripture.

In history there have been many who have prized the word of God above all else. The Reformer Martin Luther once said, "Take away the word, and you deprive us of the sun." When King Edward VI of England was coronated as king he had presented to him three swords. These were to signify that he was king over three kingdoms. The king responded that one sword was missing and when asked, "Which sword." He responded, "The Holy Bible, which is the sword of the Spirit, and is to be preferred before these signs of royalty."

Examples can be multiplied. Another is Robert, who was king of Sicily. He loved God's word and when speaking to his friend Petrarcha, he said, "I protest, the Scriptures are dearer to me than my kingdom; and if I must be deprived of one of them I had rather lose my diadem than the Scriptures." Augustine would say that before he came to faith in Christ he did not treasure the Scriptures, but after he turned to Christ they became his, "chaste delights."

The Bible to a Christian is the Book of Life. It is God's love letter to us. Thomas A. Kempis used to say that he only found contentment when he was, "in a corner, with the book of God in his hand." Such a view should be our goal. Such should be our love and view of Scripture.

I am not trying to turn anyone off to these devotionals, but I also never would wish for someone to use these devotionals as a substitute for God's word. This would be a step down, and at that, a big one. Hopefully, our devotionals do, at least, two things: 1. They add to your study of God's word. 2. They drive you to God's word.

It is my hope and prayer that you are all Berean Christians as in Acts 17:10-12. These people are called noble minded, and why?, because when Paul and Silas preached, they "examined the Scriptures daily," to see if what was being said was true. I would encourage you to do the same, not only with our devotionals but also with any teaching you receive. We must never shift our focus from God's holy word.

"Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed …. Let it not only inform you, but inflame you." Thomas Watson

"Make it the first morning business of your life to understand some part of the Bible clearly, and make it your daily business to obey it in all that you do understand." John Ruskin

Soli Deo Gloria,
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