Punctures, midges and the Bible

Ruth Kennedy February 19, 2024 3 6

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2 Timothy 3: 14-17 (NIVUK)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Honestly, it is just rubbish when I’m out cycling and I get a puncture. I’m sure you can imagine how frustrating that could be. Especially in the Cairngorms. In the summer. The midges descend as you try with all your might to leaver off the tyre that might as well be welded onto the wheel. Leaving you as a feast for the wee not-so-timorous beastie which Rabbie Burns seems to have avoided in his poems! It was after one such encounter I took a bike tool refresher course with my resident bike mechanic (Mr. Kennedy) to practice, practice, and practice the fine art of repairing a puncture faster than a Formula 1 pit crew! Turned out I was never going to be able to fix the puncture as I had forgotten to pack my tyre levers. Innocuous plastic things that turn out to be vital. I can just imagine Paul saying to Timothy ‘Don’t do a ‘Ruth' and forget your tyre levers, remember your scriptures, especially the wisdom writings’.

Well, now, my well-practiced tyre levers and all the other necessary tools to see me back on the trail are treated the same as my helmet: Not got? Not riding.

Wisdom isn’t just knowing stuff, it is also the application of the selected knowledge. Timothy had been raised by wonderful women of faith, his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. He knew the Scriptures; Genesis to Malachi in addition to the oral teachings of Jesus, but being aware of them isn’t enough. Paul teaches Timothy to remember them, using them for many different purposes in faith because Scripture equips us for every good work. When we forget the Bible, we get eaten by midges and can’t carry on our adventure. We need to know the Scriptures and how to apply them for right living and righteous living.

Actually, for life itself.

‘All Scripture is God-breathed’ (verse 16).

‘God. . .breathed into the nostrils the breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7)

God's breath brings the vessel to life whether a human or Scripture. So as we read and apply the Bible, and practice using the tools, God is breathing life into us.

Let the breath of God awaken your life as you read the Word.

Prayer:

God of life, breathe new life into me today as I read your word.

Help me get to grips with applying your Scriptures, those known to me and those I have yet to discover so I bring life to those I meet today.

Thank you for the faithful people who have and continue to teach and inspire me with your Word, may their ministries grow your Kingdom.

Raise up anointed teachers and preachers of your word for your Church and universities, for Scotland and for the world so we can all be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In your presence and name we pray Jesus, Amen.