The Authority of God's Word

Living as a Blessed and Righteous Person

In a world where truth seems increasingly subjective, where even professing Christians disagree on fundamental doctrines, we must return to a foundational question: What is the Bible, and what authority does it hold in our lives?

Recent surveys reveal a troubling reality. A majority of Protestants hold contradictory beliefs—affirming the Bible as their highest authority while simultaneously embracing teachings that directly contradict Scripture. How can people read the same book and arrive at such different conclusions? The answer often lies not in the complexity of Scripture itself, but in how we approach it.

What Is the Bible?

Scripture tells us plainly: "All Scripture is breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is not merely a collection of ancient writings or philosophical teachings. It is God's revealed truth—His very words to us. As Hebrews 4:12 declares, "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword."

When we encounter the term "word" in Scripture, particularly in John 1:1—"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"—we see that God's word is inseparable from God Himself. The Greek concept of *logos* represents the divine order that holds everything together. The Bible is not just information about God; it is God's self-revelation.

Deuteronomy 29:29 provides crucial insight: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever." God has chosen to reveal specific truths to us—truths about who He is and how He desires us to live. The Bible is supreme authority on everything it addresses, giving us a lens through which to understand our world.

The Blessed Life of Psalm 1

Psalm 1 opens with a striking declaration: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers."

This blessing is not about favorable circumstances or material prosperity. When Jesus used this same concept in the Beatitudes—"Blessed are the poor in spirit," "Blessed are those who mourn"—He was pointing to spiritual realities, not earthly comfort. The blessed person is happy and well-off not because of their life circumstances, but because of their relationship with God and His word.

The righteous person described in Psalm 1 is someone who walks with God. Like Noah, who "was a righteous man, blameless in his generation" and "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9), righteousness is not about our own goodness but about our faithful relationship with the Lord. Abraham was counted righteous because of his genuine faith and belief in God's promises.

The key phrase "walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers" describes a life pattern. These actions—walking, standing, sitting—represent continuous, defining characteristics. This doesn't mean we avoid all contact with non-believers; Jesus Himself dined with sinners. Rather, it means we don't derive our values, beliefs, or life direction from worldly wisdom. We don't establish our doctrine or moral ethics from those who reject God's authority.

Three Characteristics of the Blessed Person

A Desire to Do the Will of God

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD" (Psalm 1:2). The Hebrew word for "delight" connects to our deepest desires and will. When Jesus taught us to pray "Your will be done," He used this same concept. Our desires drive our choices, and the righteous person is characterized by wanting what God wants.

Jesus made this clear: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). True faith transforms our hearts so that our desires reflect our Father's desires. We love what He loves. We want what He wants.

Rigorous Study for the Purpose of Application

"And on his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). The word "meditate" means more than casual reflection. It involves pondering, practicing, and taking pains to understand. When Paul instructed Timothy to "practice" or "take pains with" the gifts of teaching and exhortation (1 Timothy 4), he used this same concept.

Let's be honest: reading the Bible is hard work. This is an ancient text, written by a divine being, conveying divine truths to finite, modern people. Understanding the context, grasping the meaning, and applying it to our lives requires effort.

But here's the beautiful truth: we're not alone in this work. God gives us the Holy Spirit specifically for this purpose. Jesus said it was to our advantage that He leave because we would receive the Holy Spirit, who would "teach you all things" (John 14:26). Through the Spirit, we can dive into divine knowledge and have it revealed to our hearts.

Studying Scripture to fully understand and apply God's truth is hard work, but it is our joyful vocation—something we're called to do because we love our Lord and want to know Him more deeply.

Glorifying God by Yielding His Fruit in All Circumstances

"In all that he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3). This isn't prosperity gospel teaching. Consider Joseph, whose story illustrates this principle perfectly. Genesis 39 tells us repeatedly that "the LORD was with him" and "the LORD caused all that he did to prosper." Yet Joseph's life was filled with betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment.

Joseph's success wasn't about personal comfort—it was about glorifying God and pointing others to Him. His prosperity was measured by God's purposes being accomplished through him, not by his circumstances.

The psalm uses the image of a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season. Trees don't produce fruit on their own; they're dependent on sun, water, and nutrients from the soil. Similarly, we cannot produce spiritual fruit independently. We must be rooted in Christ, rooted in His word.

The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience—glorifies God precisely because it's not our natural production. When storms come, and they will, we can remain spiritually prosperous because our goal is to glorify Christ regardless of circumstances.

As Charles Spurgeon beautifully expressed, "It is often for the soul's health that we should be poor, bereaved and persecuted. Our worst things are often our best things... The trials of the saint are a divine husbandry by which he grows and brings forth abundant fruit."

Walking with God

Before Joshua entered the Promised Land, God gave him instructions that perfectly summarize this message: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:8-9).

The promise is clear: God is with those who walk with Him. If you belong to Christ, you are not alone. The Holy Spirit guides you in understanding Scripture, helps you interpret it, and empowers you to apply it.

As followers of Christ, we are called to treasure the biblical text, know what it says, and apply it to our lives. This is not burdensome duty but joyful privilege. God's word has authority over every area of our existence—our relationships, our work, our thoughts, our choices.

The question each of us must answer is this: Does God's word truly have authority in my life? Not just theoretical authority, but practical, lived-out authority? Do I desire what God desires? Am I working hard to understand His truth? Am I yielding His fruit regardless of my circumstances?

The blessed life is not found in favorable conditions but in faithful walking with God, delighting in His word, and allowing His truth to shape every aspect of who we are.