Do you ever question if the Bible is still relevant today? Have you found yourself in a conversation trying to defend God’s Word to someone who thinks it’s just an old-fashioned book of myths and stories that has no application or connection to our modern-day sensibilities?

Well, I beg to differ.

God is eternal and sovereign, and so is His Word, which was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 2:20-21). The Bible is just as fresh and meaningful and accurate to our world as it was when it was written. How else do you explain its ability to pierce our hearts and convict us of our sin, or give us courage when we are failing, or direct our steps to wisdom in situations that the authors of each book could never have imagined?

Psalm 102:18 reminds us that the Word is eternal. This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. What wonderful words…God inspired scripture not only for those who lived in the moment He spoke it but also for you and me…a people not yet even created.

Take Psalm 101 for example. It was written by David more than a thousand years ago, long before technology gave us televisions and iPads and smartphones, yet it is so appropriate it could have been written yesterday. Eight simple verses challenge us to examine the things we watch, read, listen to, and absorb into our consciousness, holding them up to the bright light of God’s standard of holiness.

I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, Lord, I will sing praises.
I will carefully attend to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
A perverse heart shall leave me; I will know no evil.
Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; I will not endure one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart.

My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; one who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.
One who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; one who speaks lies shall not maintain his position before me.
Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, so as to eliminate from the city of the Lord all those who do injustice.

Wow. God has some high standards. Is what we are watching morally upright (blameless)? Do we walk within our own house in innocence? How much time do we waste on worthless things (ouch!)? Has media “fastened its grip” on us? Do we know evil? Do we spend our time watching actors play out arrogance and slander and deceit and lies, or do we seek out faithful and blameless companions for our time and attention?

Thankfully, Psalm 101 is followed up by Psalm 103. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle (Psalm 101:2-5).

God’s lovingkindess (mercy) is great toward those who fear Him; He is mindful that we are but dust. His compassion is new every morning. Like David, we can start anew, asking God to help us set aside any worthless thing that distracts us from the good things He longs to satisfy us with instead.

Perhaps today is a good day for all of us to unplug ourselves from anything less than what delights Him.