Everything is in a word. I learned many important lessons during my time as an adult Bible teacher, starting with the fact that the teacher learns more than the students. I had to be ready for every kind of question. And do not think I was ever unaware of the following verse:
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” [James 3:1]
Yikes! My understanding of this verse – teachers have an equal opportunity to inform, and to misinform. Another lesson I learned is the utmost importance of every word in the Word. Let me use the clever device of capitalization to make my point:
“…for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…” [Romans 3:23]
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me.”” [John 14:6]
“And EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Acts 2:21, quoting Joel 2:32]
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of ALL and richly blesses ALL who call on him, for ‘EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Romans 10:12-13]
“NO ONE knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” [Matthew 24:36]
When the Bible says everyone, no one, or all, guess what it means. It means everyone, no one, and all. We must take care in our reading to not think that ‘everyone/all’ means ‘most’, or that ‘no one’ means ‘a few’. Every word is important.
So there will be no email next week as we are on vacation. Which means you have two weeks to hit me back with your favorite verse that has one word of particular importance to you.
Permission to capitalize granted.
Blessings,
–Keith