Scripture (Part 3)
How to be equipped for every good work
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Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NET)
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Do you feel capable & equipped for every good work?
If you often don’t, then you’re not alone. I often don’t either.
“Ricky, how can you say that? You’ve got a seminary degree!”
There’s a big difference between being equipped and feeling equipped.
The prophet Jeremiah tells us that our hearts are deceptive.
And this is one of those areas where the deception is that even though I’ve had years of training, years of experience, and over a decade of memorizing Scripture … I still don’t always feel equipped to do every good work.
What to do?
For me, this is when faith in the work of the Holy Spirit really kicks into gear.
I have to trust & believe that the time and effort — the training — I put into spending time in God’s Word will continue to mold me and shape me into the man I need to be to accomplish the work the Father has for me.
There’s a saying: you are a reflection of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
If that’s true — and I suspect it is — then I better make Jesus one of those 5 people.
That’s a way for me to slowly build a personality that reflects the thoughts and attitudes and actions of Jesus.
In short, spending time with God’s Word helps me be more like God.
… regardless of whether I feel equipped.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.