Friday: Further Thought – The Role of the Bible
Daily Lesson for Friday 24th of April 2026
Further Thought:
If you consider the words that you’ve spoken during the past 24 hours, how would you evaluate them?
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Were they loving, kind, joyful, uplifting, frustrated, tired, anxious, angry, gossipy, or malicious? The Bible says, “ ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ ” (Matthew 12:34, NKJV). When we have junk in our hearts, it comes out in our words.
We’ve all experienced feeling frustrated, tired, or stressed, and that state of mind changes what comes out of our mouths (often words we later regret). In contrast, when our heart is bursting with love for someone, it flows through our words.
In the same way, God’s Word speaks of His heart and His intentions toward us. It’s amazing to think that these very words, straight from the heart of God, are in our possession in the Bible. It’s truly incredible to see the power God’s words have held throughout history.
“It is one thing to treat the Bible as a book of good moral instruction, to be heeded so far as is consistent with the spirit of the times and our position in the world; it is another thing to regard it as it really is—the word of the living God, the word that is our life, the word that is to mold our actions, our words, and our thoughts. To hold God’s word as anything less than this is to reject it. And this rejection by those who profess to believe it, is foremost among the causes of skepticism and infidelity in the youth.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 260.
Discussion Questions
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Summary: The Bible is living and powerful, and reading it is foundational to growing our relationship with God. Not only does it teach us about God’s wonderful character and His interactions with humanity throughout earth’s history—it also speaks to each of us today when we come to it in humility.
Thales of Miletus recorded his observation that when amber was rubbed with fur, it attracted other objects. Benjamin Franklin made the connection that lighting was a form of electricity. Alessandro Volta made the first electric battery. Georg Ohm gave us Ohm’s law, the relationship between current voltage and resistance. André-Marie Ampère discovered the relationship between electricity and magnetism
You can read their discoveries in any standard text. And if you really want to, you can read their reports in their original language. Further, electricity is part of most modern physics and electrical engineering textbooks, where you will learn the rules and formulas that summarise and quantify our understanding of electricity.
Electricity is powerful stuff and it is both interesting and informative to read these historical accounts. But ultimately the test for electricity is not our knowledge of its history, nor the theory that developed as a result. Ultimately, electricity is important because we can use its power in our daily lives. We heat our water, cook our food, light our rooms, and run our computers on electricity. And many people enjoy its benefits without studying its history or physics.
The Bible plays an important role in our understanding of the relationship between God and us. This week we have reminded ourselves that the Bible is powerful stuff, spiritually. But how do we use that power? How does it express itself in our lives? I am warmed when I read stories of folk whose lives have been transformed by either reading the Bible or by interaction with those who are immersed in the message of the Bible. That is where the application lies. The role of the Bible is to power us to care for the needy, comfort the lonely, help widows and orphans, and engage with those who are disenfranchised from our church or society. The Bible is a book of action and we need to share the action.
Why did Jesus say:
What happens to us when we find Jesus?
Here is some Sabbath viewing from my recent bird photography. We have had a flock of about 40 Gang-gang Cockatoos in town for a couple of weeks. Enjoy: Gang-gang Cockatoos
Thnx for the bird pictures. Aussie really does have many very beautifully coloured birds.
I was able to feed a kookaburra from my hand in a friend’s yard while I was in Australia – it was not caged, but free. I was delighted!
The Bible teaches that the Word of God is not merely written text, but an extension of God Himself and His authority—His living, active voice to humanity. Because God is living and active, His Word is also living and active, meaning that what Scripture says, God Himself says. Through the Bible, God continues to speak powerfully, calling us to listen, receive, and respond for our salvation and growth. As it is written in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to dividing soul and spirit,” and in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” This reminds us that God’s Word not only brings about our initial conversion but also sustains us in endurance, continually transforming our hearts. Therefore, we are called to receive the Word with expectation, trusting in its ongoing power to shape, convict, and strengthen us in our walk with God.
I am really finding where this week’s study has landed as intriguing – at the heart. The heart – where every unsaid thing happens. Most intriguing is that, it is the heart of truth and love in their most sincerest form – the heart of God. We started the study with clarity that scripture is the Word of God – breathed from God’s mouth; impactful and transforming Word; Word of truth – alive and living Word. The role of the Bible in effect is this Word, and what the Word purposes to do.
But it’s the state of heart that responds, and just to think that the origin of the Word of scripture is from the heart of God, meaning we close this week with a “heart to heart”. That says a lot. God’s heart talking and guiding our hearts is “the Role of the Bible” – Praise God Always!
To talk about my faith is to tell others about the miracles God has done in my life. How do I develop this experience? There is no other way but through a relationship. How do I get to know God? I have to communicate with Him (prayer talk) and learn from Him (Bible reading).
The logical and rational reasons for our faith are important but more so are our commitment and dedication to believing and living them.
Start by being intentional about Bible study and prayer and eventually they become a natural habit.
Bible study is really important. I think it is important to a relationship with Jesus. But in response to question #2, it is possible to have a relationship with Jesus without prayer and Bible study. If it wasn’t, children wouldn’t have a relationship with God, and they certainly can. (Yes, they can read or have Bible stories read to them, but this is certainly not studying the Bible) There are probably other exceptions.
I think if someone has no desire to pray and read the Bible, that may say a lot about their profession. But like other issues, I prefer not to judge. Some people have accepted Jesus but have not been mentored in spiritual growth. They may not realize how important these things are. We are all products of our environment. For example, if you grew up in a home with family worship, it is easier to continue this practice. If you had no mentorship in a devotional life, you may struggle to know where to start. I believe God is gracious when we live with influences we had no control over.
May I never drift due to neglect of the study of the Word (Hebrews 2:1-3).
May God’s word, for which some have died, truly become the powerful “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” throughout my Christian experience.(Psalm 119: 105).
In brief summary the role of the Bible is to dwell, and meditate on God’s word by spending time in it. Not just to study and become educated, though with a mind set on seeking the Lord where He may be found by opening the pages of his word, knowledge is gained too, a delightful byproduct of the time spent with God, eating and digesting His word, growing as a result of the daily nourishment from His word. 1 Timothy 4:15. His word is a light unto our path. His word helps us get through the ruff and the smooth times of life. His word strengthens us, fostering a life where we cannot go a day without getting into it to link up with the One we love. His word is truth, through which God sanctifies us. John 17:17.
Lamentations describes the funeral of Jerusalem, because of the turning away from God. Jeremiah in Lamentations, describes what can happen when we turn to God for repentance from backsliding. By His grace and compassion can we be renewed every morning, to us who seek Him on a daily basis.
Lamentations 3:22-25.
The church has always spread the message of Jesus, and implemented his message. But the Bible did not exist as we know it until the 5th century. The Bible is simply a tool in that process. Anything more than an inspirational and instrumental role is idolatry.
Does the lesson author at any point help the church guard against the idolization of the Bible?
I don’t know whether the author addresses the issue but you are right. We often overlook the difference between the media and the message. Jesus was aware of the problem, even in Jewish times:
When we use the scriptures for any purpose other than stengthening and sharing our relationship with Jesus, we are guilty of idol worship.
I suppose it is possible to idolize the Bible. The issue I have is that a lot of people who talk about idolizing the Bible really just want to prioritize other sources of truth over the Bible. That, I feel, is dangerous.
The reality is that living in 2026, almost 2000 years since the time of Jesus, the Bible really is the only source of the message of Jesus. When people say Jesus is more important than the Bible, I would say “Of course”. Jesus is the Living Word. But it’s through the Bible that I even know that (John 1).
The Scriptures and Jesus are not in contradiction. Scripture flows from Jesus and Jesus is revealed by Scripture.