In our lives, we often find ourselves wrestling with inner conflicts that don’t honor God or reflect His nature. We might think we’ve got it all under control, but there’s really worship going on in our hearts that doesn’t honor God. Pride, selfishness, and deceitful desires can become so ingrained in our lives that we barely notice their destructive influence. We might even convince ourselves that our problems stem from others’ actions or circumstances. However, true change begins when we stop looking outwardly and start examining our own hearts.
The Power and Authority of God’s Word
God has given us His Word, the Bible, to guide and transform us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states,
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
This verse is straightforward, yet packed with power. Every word in the Bible comes from God Himself, carrying His authority, character, and intentions for our good and His glory. Just because it is written instead of spoken, doesn’t mean that it carries any less authority than if God had spoken it out loud directly to you.
Think of personal will that represents someone’s wishes after they’re gone. Those written words carry the authority of the individual who has passed. In the same way, scripture carries God’s authoritative message to us. It isn’t just a collection of texts, and it’s certainly not in His absence. It’s God’s voice, directing us toward a life that honors Him.
The Transformative Process of God’s Word
These verses in 2 Timothy outline a clear process of transformation. Pay close attention to the order in which the scripture lists these actions. It is necessary and important for these four actions to be taken in sequence.
- Teaching: Scripture educates us on God’s expectations and standards.
- Rebuking: It reveals where our motives and actions fall short.
- Correcting: It helps us realign our thoughts and behaviors with God’s truth.
- Training in Righteousness: It guides us in living out these truths consistently.
This process is similar to how we might approach an area of our lives where we seek expert advice. Take physical fitness, for example. We learn the best practices (teaching), recognize (rebuking) and correct (correcting) our bad habits, and develop routines (training) to maintain healthy living. Similarly, God’s Word provides the foundation for spiritual health and growth.
Counseling through God’s Word
In applying scripture to our lives, we follow a three-step process known as the ABC’s of counseling. This process isn’t solely for Biblical counselors; it’s for any Christian who desires for his life to be transformed by God’s Word.
- Awareness: Recognizing what God’s Word says about our lives and behaviors.
- Brokenness: Feeling convicted and seeking God’s help to be made right.
- Change: Implementing the lessons learned and living them out daily.
True transformation often happens during the brokenness stage, where repentance leads to genuine change. There are three primary contexts in which we apply God’s Word:
- Suffering: Seeking comfort and understanding during times of pain or grief.
- Wisdom: Seeking guidance in decision-making and life situations.
- Change (Sin): Identifying and removing sin that hinders our relationship with God.
Teaching: Understanding God’s Will
Teaching is reading and understanding truth from God’s Word. We cannot obey what we do not know. Understanding God’s character and His Will is fundamental to applying Scripture.
- God is powerful. (1 Chronicles 29:11)
- God is holy. (Isaiah 6:3)
- God is gracious. (Psalm 116:5)
- God is just. (Psalm 89:14)
Matthew 22:37-39 describes His ultimate agenda for us.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The most basic explanation of God’s Will for your life can be summarized in four simple words: Love God. Love others.
Romans 3:10-18 reminds us that no one is righteous by nature. We are born with a tendency toward sin. No one has to teach a child how to be mean, selfish or disobedient. Instead, we have to learn kindness, selflessness, and obedience. God’s Word helps us understand our sinful nature and our need for ongoing teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
It is more in the subtleties of our hearts that our hearts begin to crave selfish things instead of what God wants for us. These common desires aren’t bad all on their own, but they can take center stage instead of our desire for God’s Will for our lives. This is where we begin to sin against God and others to get what we want. We must change these desires in order to transform our lives to God’s Will. These might include:
- Respect
- Acceptance
- Having our way or being right
- Appreciation
- Affection
- Pleasure
- Control
- Safety
- Happiness
- Never hurting again
Our struggles often stem from internal desires conflicting with God’s will. James 4:1-2 and Mark 7:20-23 highlight that our sinful actions originate from within. To transform our lives, we must realign our desires with God’s will, focusing on spiritual growth rather than worldly satisfaction.
The Role of Rebuking
Once we know scripture and what God expects, we must now apply that knowledge. Since God clearly tells us in His Word what is right or wrong, we have a measuring stick by which we can look at our own lives and actions to determine if they are sinful. Acknowledging our sins through the lens of Scripture is the process of rebuking sin (Colossians 2:8, Ephesians 4:14).
Correcting Biblically
Confessing the truth back to God (Romans 12:2, Matthew 7:3-5) is a crucial step in recognizing what is true or right. Matthew 7:3-5 says,
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
We must first examine ourselves to see where correction may be needed. We must come to understand and agree that we need correction from God. We then may soberly evaluate our own actions and sins. Then, and only then, may we begin to help ourselves and others with truth and grace.
Training in Righteousness
Living righteously involves putting off old habits and adopting new, godly practices consistently into our lives (Ephesians 4:18-24, Romans 8:5-6). God’s Word helps us control our thoughts and actions and focus on the desires of the Spirit rather than desires of the flesh. We submit ourselves to the Word of God in order for our best and God’s glory. This, in turn, transforms our minds and actions for His glory.
Conclusion
God’s standard for us is never perfection; it is always faithfulness and growth in Christlikeness. As we let God’s Word shape us, we can stand before Him, confident that we’ve loved Him and others as He commanded. We can confidently counsel ourselves and others in our lives with truth and grace.
Will you allow the Word of God to transform and change you? At the end of your life, will you be able to say you did what He asked of you? As Christ-followers, we must commit to letting Scripture guide our hearts and lives, bringing us closer to God and His purposes.