God's Word - Its Use is Profuse

No chemical compound is more useful than salt. Incredibly, it has 14,000 industiral uses. And providentially, it's abundant.

When it comes to real usefulness in terms of what will count for all eternity, nothing compares to God's revealed word, as Paul told Timothy: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tm 3P:16-17). That sounds almost like a panacea!

But St. Augustine lists even more Bible bonuses. He likens it to a road map to heaven that shows us the most direct and secure road to get there. It also provides road signs of dangers and alerts us to enemuy ambush areas enroute and hidden snares that threaten our soul. It points out refreshment places along the way. It provides strength for our labors, trials, and sufferings on our toilsome journey heavenward. We might add to Augustime's list: the bible is useful for devotional prayer, for persuasive preaching, in healing and deliverance. What could be more useful than that?

Both scholars and peasants can find useful things in God's versatile word. In the quaint metaphor of St. Gregory the Great, "Holy Scripture is a stream of running water, where an elephant may swim and a lamb may walk without losing its footing." So no one has an excuse for neglecting God's awesome and useful word.

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net