by David Gibson<\/p>\n
I love to see a well-used Bible-worn cover, key passages marked, and with lots of hand-written notes in the margins. Even more, I love seeing believers whose lives are shaped by the Scriptures. They not only know the Bible but, far more importantly, live it. This is exactly what God intends (James 1:21-25).<\/p>\n
God’s word is a guiding light (Psalms 119:105), nourishing food (Matthew 4:4; I Peter 2:2), and a sharp, two-edged sword that pierces to the very core of our being (Hebrews 4:12).<\/p>\n
When applied, the Scriptures can transform vile sinners of all stripes into those whose lives reflect the Christ they now serve (I Corinthians 6:9-11). How can the Bible’s transforming power be explained in any other way than by its divine origin?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by David Gibson Powerful Effect I love to see a well-used Bible-worn cover, key passages marked, and with lots of hand-written notes in the margins. Even more, I love seeing believers whose lives are shaped by the Scriptures. They not only know the Bible but, far more importantly, live it. This is exactly what God…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[383],"class_list":["post-93976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-growth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":92647,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-i-believe-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":93976,"position":0},"title":"Why I Believe the Bible","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Keith Greer Today, God's book is under attack from many enemies. Even some in the church question the Bible's validity. Why should we believe the Bible? Allow me to present, for your consideration, a few of my reasons for believing. It Is Completely Honest Consider the honesty of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54601,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-spirit-speaks\/","url_meta":{"origin":93976,"position":1},"title":"The Spirit Speaks","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry W. Benton The Spirit speaks completely through the scriptures. The Spirit gave the Scriptures so that we would know what the apostles knew (Ephesians 3:3-5). We can know all that the Spirit revealed to Paul, read it, and then know all he knew. That is no small matter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35141,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/response-to-gays-reaction-to-ads-that-call-them-sinners\/","url_meta":{"origin":93976,"position":2},"title":"Response to Gays’ Reaction to Ads that Call Them Sinners","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Marsha Norris Sentry Magazine, September 1999 In a country that was founded on God and whose strength and morality were based on the Bible, we have lost our bearings. Today's culture, the feel-good, instant gratification-seeking society, is intent on bending and twisting the very foundation that once made us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35480,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-have-an-ordained-and-permissive-will\/","url_meta":{"origin":93976,"position":3},"title":"Does God have an ordained and permissive will?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Like many times in the past few years, I was lost as to God's will for my life. So I typed into Google: God what do you want me to do? Stay where I am or move? I have been out of work for several years and my money\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17615,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reading-the-bible-from-cover-to-cover\/","url_meta":{"origin":93976,"position":4},"title":"Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 2, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Abraham Smith We should read the Bible from cover to cover. We should want to know what the Lord said. Many of us, while acknowledging that the Bible is the word of God, have not read it in its entirety. We have been hindered from reading the Bible completely\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/Bible-Reading-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55064,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/as-long-as-i-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":93976,"position":5},"title":"As Long as I Love …","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 8, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Keven A. Sulc via\u00a0The Berean, Vol. 5, No. 6, August 1996 There are many concepts and beliefs that are held regarding salvation. We must never just accept something because it is commonly accepted or taught by religious teachers but see what the Scriptures say lest we be deceived. 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