A question crossed my mind today, and it’s one that I think every believer—including me—ought to be willing to sit with for a while:

Do I believe the Bible from cover to cover, or do I justify certain Scriptures as not applying to my life because they don’t fit the way I want to live?

It’s easy to say, “I believe the Bible.”

It’s another thing entirely when the Bible confronts something in us.

We can believe Scripture when it comforts us. We can underline the promises, quote the verses about God’s love, and hold tightly to the passages that give us hope when life gets difficult.

But what happens when God’s Word tells us something we don’t want to hear?

What happens when Scripture confronts our pride? Our anger? Our relationships? Our speech? Our priorities? Our money? Our forgiveness? Our obedience? Our willingness to separate ourselves from sin?

That’s where the question becomes personal.

James wrote:

> “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
James 1:22, KJV



Sometimes we can become very good at explaining why a Scripture doesn’t require anything from us.

“That was for them.”

“Things are different today.”

“Everybody does it now.”

“God understands.”

Now, we absolutely should study Scripture in its proper context. Not every command given to Israel under the law was given directly to the New Testament church. Not every promise made to a particular person was made personally to us. We shouldn’t pull verses out of their setting and make them say whatever we want.

But that’s different from discovering what Scripture actually teaches—and then looking for a reason not to obey because the truth makes us uncomfortable.

That’s the part I’m thinking about.

Am I allowing God’s Word to correct my life?

Or am I trying to correct God’s Word to fit my life?

Paul wrote:

> “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
2 Timothy 3:16, KJV



Notice one of those words:

Correction.

If God’s Word never corrects me, perhaps I need to ask whether I’m really allowing it to examine me.

The Bible wasn’t given so I could reshape it around the life I’ve already decided to live.

My life is supposed to be reshaped by the Word of God.

So today I’m asking myself a difficult question:

When Scripture and my lifestyle disagree, which one am I willing to change?

Until the rain falls again…

Grace and peace,

A Porch Believer