The Power of Scripture

<p>Stephen was an up-and-coming comedian, and a prodigal. Raised in a Christian family, he struggled with doubt after his dad and two brothers died in a plane crash. By his early twenties, he&rsquo;d lost his faith. He found it one night on the frigid streets of Chicago. A stranger gave him a pocket New Testament, and Stephen cracked open the pages. An index said those struggling with anxiety should read Matthew 6:27&ndash;34, from Jesus&rsquo;s Sermon on the Mount.</p> <p>Stephen turned there, and the words kindled a fire in his heart. He recalls, &ldquo;I was absolutely, immediately lightened. I stood on the street corner in the cold and read the sermon, and my life has never been the same.&rdquo;</p> <p>Such is the power of Scripture. The Bible is unlike any other book, for it&rsquo;s alive. We don&rsquo;t read the Bible. The Bible reads us. &ldquo;Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit . . . it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart&rdquo; (Hebrews 4:12).</p> <p>Scripture presents the most powerful force on the planet, a force that transforms and leads you toward spiritual maturity. Open it and read it out loud, asking God to ignite your heart. He promises that the words He has spoken &ldquo;will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it&rdquo; (Isaiah 55:11). Your life will never be the same.</p>