The Bible Is for Transformation, Not Ammunition

“If we primarily use the Bible to have the right answers, to win arguments, and to point out other people’s sin then we are using the Bible wrong. The Bible should help form us into the people God created us to be.”

I posted this thought to X a few months ago, and the more I have pondered this, the more I realize how easy it is for us as Christians to misuse God’s Word. The Bible is a great gift He has given us for knowing His heart and character, yet we often reduce it to a weapon in theological debates, a tool to shame others, or a way to reinforce our own sense of being right.

But Scripture was never meant to be reduced to ammunition. It was given for transformation.

The Danger of Using the Bible Wrong

When Jesus confronted the Pharisees, He didn’t condemn them for ignoring Scripture; He rebuked them for misusing it. They had mastered the text. They could quote the Law and the Prophets. They even prided themselves on being defenders of truth. But in their zeal for knowledge and authority, they missed the very purpose of God’s Word: to point them to the Messiah and shape them into people of justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).

If we treat the Bible only as a source of information or as a tool for argument, we can fall into the same trap. We might win the debate but lose sight of the call to love. We might expose someone else’s sin but ignore the pride or anger in our own hearts. We might be “right” and still be wrong.

The Bible’s True Purpose

Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB) that all Scripture is “inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Notice the emphasis—Scripture corrects us, trains us, equips us, and completes us. Its aim is not simply knowledge, but formation.

God gave us the Bible so that through it we could be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. This should not surprise us, sin corrupts the image of God in us, and Jesus came to undo the work of Satan and restore God’s image. So every page whispers God’s story of redemption and invites us to live differently because of it.

• The Psalms train our hearts to worship and trust God in every season.
• The Gospels call us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, imitating His love and humility.
• The Prophets challenge us to pursue justice and care for the vulnerable.
• The Epistles guide us in living as a Spirit-filled community, marked by grace and holiness.

The Bible is not just about knowing the truth—it is about becoming people of truth.

How We Can Use the Bible Right

How can we stop using the Bible as ammunition in debates and start receiving it as a source of transformation?

• Read to be formed, not just informed. Ask not only “What does this mean?” but “How does this shape me?”
• Invite the Spirit to search your heart. Instead of using the Bible to diagnose other people’s sins, allow it to confront your own.
• Practice what you read. James warns us not to be hearers of the Word only, but doers (James 1:22). Each passage invites us into obedience.
• See Jesus at the center. All of Scripture points us to Christ (Luke 24:27). If our reading does not draw us closer to Him, we are missing the point.

Becoming the People God Created Us to Be

At its core, the Bible is God’s story shaping our story. It reveals who He is and who we are meant to be in Him. When we approach it humbly, not as a weapon but as a word of life, we begin to see the Spirit forming us into people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

That’s the goal—not winning arguments, not proving ourselves right, but becoming more like Jesus.

So let’s commit to reading the Bible the right way: not for ammunition, but for transformation.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Sunday Prayer: A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Father God,

Because of Your mercy, we come to You with grateful hearts. You have given us life, forgiveness, and hope through Christ, and today we offer ourselves back to You. Take our bodies, our time, our words, and our choices, and make them a living and holy sacrifice—pleasing in Your sight and shaped by gratitude, not obligation. Teach us that true worship is not confined to a moment, but lived out in surrendered lives.

Lord, guard us from being shaped by the patterns of this world. Too often we drift without noticing—absorbing its values, its fears, and its priorities. Renew our minds by Your Spirit. Reorder our thinking, realign our loves, and reshape our desires so that we reflect the heart of Jesus rather than the culture around us.

As You transform us, help us discern Your will. Give us wisdom to recognize what is good, pleasing, and perfect in Your sight. Send us into this week as people who think differently, live faithfully, and worship You with all that we are. We offer ourselves to You again today.

Amen.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Living a Fulfilled Life

When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, it’s easy to believe that a fulfilling life depends on our circumstances—on everything finally falling into place. We tell ourselves that once the job stabilizes, the relationship improves, or the finances settle down, then we will have peace. But Scripture tells a different story. True fulfillment doesn’t come from what is happening around us; it flows from what God is forming within us.

The apostle Paul describes this Spirit-formed life in Galatians 5:22–23:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

This is not a checklist to complete or a standard to measure ourselves against. It is a description of the new life we have received in King Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is not something we manufacture through effort or willpower; it is the natural result of the Holy Spirit’s transforming presence in our hearts. Just as a healthy tree bears fruit because life is flowing through it, a healthy spiritual life produces love, joy, and peace because the Spirit is at work within us.

Earlier in the chapter, Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. In doing so, he is really describing two very different ways of living. One life is driven by self—shaped by desire, fear, pride, and control. The other is guided by the Spirit—rooted in trust, nurtured by grace, and flourishing in God’s faithful love. A Spirit-shaped life is not defined by external success or stability, but by inner transformation.

Jesus described eternal life not simply as life after death, but as a quality of life that begins now—a life marked by God’s presence and purpose. That’s why the fruit of the Spirit is more than moral guidance; it is visible evidence that eternal life is already taking root within us. When we live by the Spirit, we don’t just behave differently—we are being made new.

This transformation reshapes how we understand fulfillment. Instead of being tied to circumstances, fulfillment becomes anchored in the presence of the Spirit. We discover that joy can exist even in hardship, peace can remain in seasons of uncertainty, and love can endure even when life wounds us deeply. This is one of the great paradoxes of spiritual growth: the more deeply the Spirit forms us, the less power the chaos of the world has over us.

As the Spirit works within us, we begin to experience a deep, steady contentment that circumstances cannot steal away. Fulfillment becomes less about control and more about surrender—trusting that God is faithfully at work, producing something good, beautiful, and lasting in us. The fruit of the Spirit reminds us that God is far more concerned with who we are becoming than with our ability to get everything we want.

So perhaps the daily question we need to ask isn’t, “Are things going my way?” but rather, “What kind of fruit is growing in my life?” Are we becoming more patient, more gentle, more faithful? Are joy and peace taking root even when life feels unstable?

The Spirit is faithful to produce this fruit as we remain connected to Jesus—the true vine (John 15:5). Our calling is not to strive harder, but to stay rooted in King Jesus through prayer, Scripture, worship, and life together in community. As we do, the Spirit grows in us what no amount of effort ever could: a life marked by love, joy, peace, and the very character of God.

Fulfillment is not something we achieve; it is something we receive as the Spirit shapes us from the inside out. May we be people who live from that place—grounded in God’s love, bearing the Spirit’s fruit, and discovering a joy no circumstance can undo.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Being Religious

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.” It sounds good, and there’s truth in it—but I’m not convinced it tells the whole story.

If we define religion simply as rituals, traditions, and practices that help us relate to God, then yes—I am a religious person. And I believe every follower of Jesus is, too.

The reality is this: we cannot relate to God in the same way we relate to friends and family. We don’t see Him physically. We don’t sit across the table from Him. Religion—our practices, rhythms, and habits—is one of the primary ways we express our love for God and stay connected to Him.

In Scripture, especially in Exodus and Leviticus, God gave Israel very specific instructions for worship. Sacrifices, festivals, priestly duties—all of it was intentional. God provided concrete practices that helped His people approach Him and reflect His holiness.

At the same time, many religious practices developed through tradition. They aren’t commanded in Scripture, but they help shape our worship and community. Celebrating Christmas, meeting in church buildings, singing certain songs—these traditions can enrich our relationship with God when they point us to Jesus.

As followers of Christ, we recognize that many of the laws given to Israel were specific to their covenant relationship with God. We don’t offer animal sacrifices anymore because Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Instead, we remember His death through the Lord’s Supper. We no longer keep the Sabbath as Israel did, yet we gather weekly for worship, rest, and renewal.

Traditions and rituals still matter because they help us remember, express, and practice our faith.

But there’s another essential purpose for religion: to help us change.

Christianity isn’t just about relating to God—it’s about becoming the person God created us to be. The danger comes when we confuse performing religious actions with spiritual transformation.

James makes this point very clearly:

“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

— James 1:26–27 (NLT)

James spends much of his opening chapter reminding us that trials, God’s wisdom, and God’s Word are all tools God uses to shape our lives. But rituals alone—going through the motions—don’t produce transformation. If our practices don’t lead us to self-control, compassion, and purity, then something is missing.

Our religion becomes worthless when it is disconnected from faith.

Faith is what gives meaning to our worship, traditions, and spiritual disciplines. Without faith:

• religion becomes empty routine
• trials feel pointless and destructive
• Scripture becomes nice advice rather than life-giving truth

Faith—our allegiance to King Jesus—is what opens our hearts to God’s transforming work. God cannot change us if we will not trust Him. We can participate in every religious activity available and still remain unchanged.

So in the end, the question isn’t, “Am I religious?”

The better question is: “Am I faithful?”

Who am I trusting?

Who am I committed to?

Who has my heart?

If the answer isn’t Jesus—and if we aren’t willing to trust Him with our lives—then our religion might be little more than hollow ritual.

But when faith and practice come together, religion becomes something beautiful. It becomes a rhythm of grace—a way of living that shapes us into the likeness of Christ.

Point to Ponder:

Religion without faith cannot transform us. Faith expressed through obedience and love is what makes our worship meaningful.

Question to Consider:

How is your faith shaping the way you practice your relationship with God this week?

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Knowing vs. Doing: The Gap We All Face

“We all know what to do (give or take a few details); but we all manage, at least some of the time, not to do it.”

— N. T. Wright, Simply Christian, p. 6

I was flipping through Simply Christian a few days ago when this quote caught my eye. It is the story of my life. I know I should exercise more and get more sleep, but I find excuses not to do it.

Even worse are those moments when I know I should love but don’t, or when I should keep a promise but inconveniently forget. I know what I should do, but I manage not to do it.

Wright nails this common human experience. Everyone has experienced the moment of not living up to their own ideals. The pull of compromise is a reality we all face.

Why is it so hard to do what we know is right?

The Reality We All Recognize

I’m sure you’ve experienced this in your own life. You know you should forgive a coworker who took credit for your work, but it feels better, in the moment, to hold a grudge. You know you should tell your spouse the truth about how much you spent on new gear, but you don’t have the energy to argue. The issue is not a lack of knowledge but a lack of action. The reasons vary, but the result is the same: we are not doing what we should.

All of us have a sense of what we ought to do. This awareness points to an important truth: there is a moral law written on our hearts. In other words, we have a conscience. 

The apostle Paul put it this way: 

“Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” 

— Romans 2:14-15; NLT

Paul claims that even those who did not have God’s written law had the ability to do what is right. Everyone has a sense of what is right and what is wrong—which means everyone is guilty of not living up to God’s image.

The Tension Between Knowing and Doing

Why do we miss the mark?

There are many reasons, each failure often has its own root cause. For instance, I don’t go to the gym because I don’t want to feel foolish. I eat more than I should because I’m coping with depression. I don’t serve more because I’m fixated on my own life and needs. I know what I should do—but other things get in the way.

Paul confesses to the same sort of problem: 

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 

— Romans 7:15-16; NLT.

There is a war happening between our flesh and our spirit, and too often the flesh wins out. This means that rather than doing what we know we should do, we do the very thing we don’t want to do.

There’s a war between flesh and spirit, and too often the flesh wins. This is not merely moral weakness; it’s the human condition. We were created for union with God, our source of life, but sin severs that connection. Instead of being guided by the Spirit, we are guided by the flesh—which distorts our desires and habits.

Thankfully we bear God’s image, which means there will be times when we do the right thing, but more often than not our flesh wins out and we do what is wrong instead.

This is why Paul writes, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24; NLT).

The Hope of Transformation

Right in the next verse, Paul offers us hope: “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:25, NLT).

In Jesus, the power of sin is broken; we receive forgiveness and new life. Alongside those gifts comes the Holy Spirit, who guides and transforms us. We are no longer left entirely to the sway of the flesh; we can gradually learn to live by the Spirit.

This doesn’t happen in an instant. It is a lifelong process of learning to be guided by the Spirit. Spiritual maturity means we are doing the right thing more and more often—and the reason we are doing the right thing is because the Spirit is guiding our lives.

We don’t have to live as “miserable” people the rest of our lives. Through Jesus, we can slowly but surely be restored as God’s image bearers.

Ponder and Practice

Take time to pause and reflect: What is one thing I know I ought to do—but haven’t?

It is worth taking time to examine our lives and commit to dealing with the sin that still lives within us. That is the only way we can become the people God created us to be.

Knowing what to do is essential. Doing it—by God’s grace—is transforming.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.