We had a few Skype sessions this past weekend. 50% of them were with family and 50% were for counseling purposes. A month or two ago, due to ADSL cable problems, we canceled our line and went onto a pay-as-you-go SIM card with Telkom. Before lockdown this system worked well but since lockdown with people at home and no access to their work Wi-Fi, it seems everyone is using their Telkom SIM cards putting excessive demand onto the Telkom system slowing down the internet speed. The result is that as the Skype session proceeded, those on the other side (and us too) would either freeze or be in slow motion without sound. Such a session can be very difficult! (The above can also be attributed to the undersea cable running down from Europe along Africa’s West Coast that broke for the second time in a few weeks).
Everyone who wants to use the internet is dependent upon data supply! Yet everyone who wants to use God’s data, the Bible, has instant access all the time.
You have a Bible on your shelf or next to your bed or on your Laptop or Cellphone. There is no “go slow” feeding on this data. There is no “freezing” of this data. It’s readily and instantly available.
Let us discipline ourselves and use this available, instant data from God day by day. Slacking off creates spiritual decline leading to spiritual declension (depression) causing the loss of morals and integrity.
Why use God’s data?
It is God’s Word
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible is God’s inerrant, inspired, authoritative Word. Using it transforms you, for it teaches. This teaching rebukes you when in error, so that it may correct you and so that you might be trained in God’s righteous ways. Then, once the application is there, you are equipped to serve God anywhere and anyhow.
It is the Truth
Jn 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
God’s Word is Truth, AND using the Truth sanctifies–that is, makes you holy as you apply it.
Use God’s Data, Enjoy God’s Data. It’s freely available, as Isaiah says:
Isa 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.