The There are many excellent Christian books that encourage us with scripture, help us understand

or apply the teaching of the Bible, but if you long to hear God himself speak, you have to read his word.

Today on Truth for Life, we'll find out why no other book will suffice.

Alistairbegg is teaching from 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 and 17. I'm told that the late Howard Hendricks, who was a beloved professor at Dallas

theological seminary, had a sign either on his wall or on his desk, I'm not sure, which he would see on a daily

basis when he walked out of his study and into the classroom where he was about to teach.

And the sign said, what are you doing with these people?

In his case, his students, whom he had responsibility for. In the case of Timothy, the people who are under his

care as he pastors the church here in Ephesus. And in my case and in the case of my colleagues the congregation

that is under our direction as we open the scriptures routinely and consistently

together what are you doing with these people? The better

question might be what is God doing with these people and the secondary question

and how is God doing what he's doing with these people?

God is at work by the Holy Spirit through his word

and the way in which God does that is both mysterious and it is marvelous. It is unmistakable and yet it is almost incomprehensible.

But if we think about it, it's not too hard to grasp why this should be.

After all, each of us to one degree or another has been sustaining ourselves through the week that is passed

as a result of the intake of water and of food.

Without water and without food, then we are malnourished.

In the same way, the spiritual life of the believer

is maintained by the food of God's word.

And the absence of the food of God's word

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