Let Scripture Shape You, Not Just Confirm You
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16
One of the most valuable truths we can grasp as followers of Jesus is this: the Bible is meant to shape us, not just confirm what we already think.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul addresses the issue of women covering their heads during worship. Over time, many have lifted this passage out of its original context and used it to build hard rules about hair length and head coverings, missing the heart of what Paul was addressing. At that time, Paul was speaking to a very specific situation in Corinth, a city where the church sat right next to pagan temples, where women with short hair were often associated with temple prostitution. Paul’s guidance was practical, aiming to help believers live in a way that reflected their new identity in Christ within that cultural setting.
Here’s where this brings real value to us today: if we only read Scripture looking to confirm our assumptions, we miss the opportunity to be transformed by God’s wisdom. It is easy to approach the Bible with the mindset of proving our opinions, finding verses to back up what we already believe, or defending the way we’ve always done things. But Scripture was never meant to serve as a backup for our biases. It is meant to teach us, challenge us, correct us, and change us.
When we open the Bible, we should do it with a posture of humility. Instead of asking, “How can I use this verse to prove my point?” we should be asking, “God, what do You want to show me through this?”
There’s a big difference between reading the Bible for information and reading it for transformation. One fills your head. The other shapes your heart.
As you spend time in God’s Word, slow down. Pay attention to the context. Be open to having your assumptions challenged and your heart refined. Trust that when God’s Word is understood as He intended it, it will not only answer your questions but will grow you into someone who better reflects Christ’s love and truth to the world.
One of the most valuable truths we can grasp as followers of Jesus is this: the Bible is meant to shape us, not just confirm what we already think.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul addresses the issue of women covering their heads during worship. Over time, many have lifted this passage out of its original context and used it to build hard rules about hair length and head coverings, missing the heart of what Paul was addressing. At that time, Paul was speaking to a very specific situation in Corinth, a city where the church sat right next to pagan temples, where women with short hair were often associated with temple prostitution. Paul’s guidance was practical, aiming to help believers live in a way that reflected their new identity in Christ within that cultural setting.
Here’s where this brings real value to us today: if we only read Scripture looking to confirm our assumptions, we miss the opportunity to be transformed by God’s wisdom. It is easy to approach the Bible with the mindset of proving our opinions, finding verses to back up what we already believe, or defending the way we’ve always done things. But Scripture was never meant to serve as a backup for our biases. It is meant to teach us, challenge us, correct us, and change us.
When we open the Bible, we should do it with a posture of humility. Instead of asking, “How can I use this verse to prove my point?” we should be asking, “God, what do You want to show me through this?”
There’s a big difference between reading the Bible for information and reading it for transformation. One fills your head. The other shapes your heart.
As you spend time in God’s Word, slow down. Pay attention to the context. Be open to having your assumptions challenged and your heart refined. Trust that when God’s Word is understood as He intended it, it will not only answer your questions but will grow you into someone who better reflects Christ’s love and truth to the world.
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