Key scripture – “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18)

The fact that the Bible is completely true and authoritative and it cannot be disproven is a wonderful doctrine for the Christian faith. But the power of God’s Word can be nullified in your personal experience if you refuse to let the Word speak to you or if you start mixing it up with your human opinions and viewpoints.

The Bible itself cannot lose its power or authority. That will never happen because God’s Word is forever settled in heaven. But the Bible’s power may be blunted in your life when you do not respond to God in humility and obedience.

A lot of people who try to mix their own thoughts with the Bible’s teaching are wrong. What truth and authority we are following in our lives is at the core of why the Holy Spirit is not doing more in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth who is obligated only to God’s Word. So when you start diluting the Word with your human opinions and viewpoints, the Spirit steps back, because He is not going to bless your speculations and your opinions. The introduction of human opinion nullifies the effectiveness of the benefits that the Scriptures are designed to give you.

Just before the closing benediction in Revelation, we find a dual warning to anyone who either “adds to” or “takes away from” the words of this book, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”(Revelation 22:18–19).

God pronounces a curse when people start messing with His message. Therefore, instead of adding your opinions and perspective to His Word, you need to align your perspective with God’s perspective and that will enable you to tap into the power that comes from the authority of His Word.

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16).

When God’s Word and a teacher or a preacher or anyone else say different things, which one should you believe? You always believe God’s Word because it is the “absolute truth.”

Ask God to show you how to take seriously your need to get truth from His Word and to not rely on your own opinion and ideas. “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” (Psalm 119:27).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, it’s easy to get away from Your perspective, especially with so much noise and clutter in our world today. Keep me ever in front of Your Word so that I can align my thoughts and choices under You. I know that if I trust in You with all my heart by following and obeying Your Word, and do not lean on my own understanding, but instead I acknowledge You in all my decisions, then You will straighten my crooked paths and remove all the bolders and fill all the pot holes that are on my path, and show me the way to go. Father, give me the wisdom and strength to “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 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.” (Joshua 1:7-8). Let Your Word wash over my soul and rule my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.