12/7/25 Weekly Bible Lesson: A Life Map

Psalm 19:7-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 

Eighty-four years ago, today was known as the day that went down in infamy by then-President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The next day, the United States declared war on the Japanese. In just three short days to follow, the United States would soon be involved in two theatres of war as war was declared upon Germany as well. Most of us were not around yet. For many of us, our parents were not even around yet. Be not mistaken, though, in one way or another, that day has played a major role in the ongoing lives of Americans. This historic day has helped to shape, sharpen, and save the lives of many U.S. citizens to this very day. 

Today’s passages help us to understand that these same three principles will do the same thing in our lives if we permit them to. This once again proves the innumerable facets the Bible can play in our lives. The Bible can shape, sharpen, and lead us to salvation. 

The Word of God Shapes Us

The two passages of our lesson proclaim the great and glorious message found throughout the Word of God. There is no doubt that one can quickly identify when an individual has been raised within the direction and guidance of the Bible. We are not referring to those that heard inaccurate quotes said to have come from the Bible, such as “Cleanliness is next to godliness, or “The Lord helps those that help themselves,” but actual phrases, stories, lessons, and concepts found in the Bible. The Bible will shape you. The Bible will shape me. The Bible shapes our worldview, our attitudes, and the actions that we place into motion. Just as the clay upon the wheel, our shape will come from the hands that are molding us. 

Both the Psalmist and the apostle Paul remind us that God’s Word is good for understanding the creation of the world as well as developing a conviction based on the wisdom found within. Timothy, who was taught from the Sacred Writings from a young age, believed and obeyed them. All of Scripture is filled with information, guidance, and instruction that shapes the young and old alike. What small child is not better off because they have been taught valuable stories, lessons, and precepts from the blessed book? With that said, what aged man or woman can say that their life has not benefited from the practical teaching and admonition from the Holy Writ? There is not a person on earth whose life would not be better if it were guided by the Bible. 

The Word of God Sharpens Us

From both passages, we are also reminded of how we are sharpened by the Word of God. Again, both the Psalmist and Paul are pointedly expressing that there are warnings and rewards that come from the Bible. Our hearts are reminded how one can receive the reward for obeying the commands, yet still be faced with the consequences of disobedience. We are reminded that there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. 

The Word of God helps to take the rough edges off every person. It is by our own failures and through our own struggles and shortcomings that we become spiritually dull. The Living Word helps to take us from being damaged, broken, and sullied by sin. We are also given the opportunity for restoration, healing, and cleansing that only comes by the purified, divinely given Word of God. 

Another aspect of the sharpening we receive is that the Word of God leads us to the working of sanctification in our lives. It instructs us to live a life of holiness. As the texts from Psalm 19 and 2 Timothy both point out, God’s Word gives us God’s mind. We need help to keep our thoughts and actions up to what God desires. We are acquitted yet made adequate by the same blood-bought message of Jesus. 

The Word of God Saves Us

In our Psalm passage, we see the necessity of asking for forgiveness. We are faced with the need to be strengthened against willful sin. We all must realize God’s grace and guidance. Paul then confirms this by telling us that God’s Word leads to salvation, rebuke, and correction. There is no other way that man receives revelation but through the message of the divine writings of God’s Word. Nature reveals to us His omnipotence. Nature reveals to us His omniscience, but it is in the written Word of God, given by the Holy Spirit and made manifest to us through Jesus Christ we have the message of salvation. 

Salvation is available to all who desire it. The message that saves can be as sweet as honey to the obedient believers and as bitter as bad vegetables to those who reject and deny the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection message of Jesus Christ. 

God’s precious Word will shape, sharpen, and save. It is passages like these that give us a powerful description of the sufficiency of Scripture. It emphasizes the ability to guide, convict, and transform the human heart and mind for the cause of Jesus Christ. We have been blessed to be given God’s Word to be the catalyst that fuels our Christian life.