God's Word Is Enough

In Jesus' story, the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers. Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:29). God had already spoken, and what He had said was enough.

Moses and the prophets. This means the Scriptures God had given, our Old Testament.

Jesus said it too. Jesus told some leaders who would not believe Him, “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:47). He meant the writings of Moses. If people would not trust what God had already written, they would not trust Jesus either.

So you can be sure. Luke wrote his Gospel for a man named Theophilus, “that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:4). Certainty means being sure. God gave us His Word so that we can know what is true.

Apollos. In the book of Acts, a man named Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures. He went to Greece and showed from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. He was a great help to those who had believed (Acts 18:24-28).

Paul in Rome. Near the end of Acts, Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Many people came to the house where he was staying. From morning until evening he explained the kingdom of God to them. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets (Acts 28:23).

Some were persuaded. Some of them believed what Paul said, and some did not (Acts 28:24). They all heard the same Scriptures. The difference was in their hearts.

Before a king. Paul also spoke to King Agrippa from the prophets. Agrippa answered that Paul had almost persuaded him to become a Christian (Acts 26:27-28). Hearing the truth was not enough; he needed to believe it.

The good news was written down. Paul wrote that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). God's Word told the good news long before it happened.

What we learn. God does not need to send a messenger from the dead. He has already given us His Word, and it is enough to lead us to Jesus.

What to do. When you read the Bible, you are hearing what God has said. Ask Him to help you believe it, and let it lead you to Jesus.

The rich man thought a visitor from the dead would change his brothers' hearts (Luke 16:30). But God's Word has a power that no visitor has. It gives life.

Born again by the Word. Peter wrote that believers have been “born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). God uses His Word to give people new life.

A seed that never dies. Corruptible means it can rot or die. A seed from a plant can die, but God's Word never dies. The new life it gives lasts forever.

It stands forever. Isaiah said that grass dries up and flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Peter quoted these words and said this word is the good news that was preached to us (1 Peter 1:24-25).

Light for learners. A psalm says that when God's words come in, they give light, and they give understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130). Simple means someone who is still learning. You do not have to be grown up to understand God's Word.

Written for us. Paul wrote that the things written long ago were written to teach us, so that through the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4). The same Scriptures that warned the five brothers also comfort everyone who trusts God.

Hope for hard days. When you feel sad or worried, open the Scriptures. God gave them to give you hope (Romans 15:4).

Believe and be saved. The Bible says, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). We learn that good news from God's Word.

The Spirit and the Word. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to open hearts. When you read it, He helps you understand it and trust Jesus (John 14:26).

What we learn. God's Word is living. It gives new life, it lasts forever, and it gives light even to children.

What to do. Make God's Word part of every day. Read a few verses, ask God to help you understand them, and learn a verse by heart. Then tell someone else what you learned.