Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with a young
man who is in jail on some serious charges. Sitting in that little visiting room,
I opened my Bible and shared a passage from Philippians with him, urging him to
spend some time thinking it over when he returned to his cell. Later in the day
his sister texted me what he texted to her -
“what he read hit me so hard… it meant a
lot. … next time I want to take notes and bring back to everyone here what he
has to say.” In fact, it was not
what
I said that spoke to him, it was the Spirit
using the Truth of the Word.
Do you love Truth? Do you receive the Scripture eagerly,
allowing God’s Spirit to shape your thoughts? In Psalm 119 we read “How
sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your
commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of
life.”
What you feed your mind becomes what you believe. On those convictions
you lay the foundation upon which your life is built. For the Believer, there
is a primary source of truth. It is the Holy Scripture that teaches
Who God is,
What He has done, and
How we can please Him.
You do not have to be a Biblical scholar to read the Word.
You do not need a degree in ancient literature to understand. What you need is
a faith-filled heart that invites the Spirit to speak. Yes, of course, it is
important to have teachers who help you to unwrap the text’s meaning. We need
the counsel of wise and skilled Pastors and teachers to keep us from going off
the rails with false conclusions. BUT we will gain great wisdom IF we open the
Bible and read it for all it’s worth.
It is powerful! Paul urges us to "Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter,
because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." (2
Timothy 2:15-16, NIV) Correctly handle the Word of Truth! Do you study, know,
understand, and apply the truth of the Scripture to your life, Believer? God
gave us the Scripture to bring us to life, godliness, and wholeness. The
Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
(Psalm 119:105, NIV)
It is of great concern to me that so many Christians in 2026 have a such
superficial knowledge of the Bible, knowing only a few verses they cherry-pick from
favorite passages but lacking a deep understanding of the magnificent wisdom
for life that is revealed in those pages. Yes, we must avoid using the holy
text like a ‘magic book’ or as ‘verse of the day’ source!
We are rich in resources for study. (A caution – not every commentary,
book, or You-tube teacher is of equal value but that is for another CoffeeBreak.)
If you want to start to learn Scripture I offer this advice.
1.
Get a modern language translation so that
you do not have to struggle through English that is 500 years old. I recommend
the New International Version (NIV) or the English Standard Verson (ESV) as
trustworthy.
There are some great apps for your phone such as YouVersion that give you the
texts.
Online for your PC I suggest – Biblegateway.com
2.
Find a Bible study group that is solid.
Avoid the ones that are tangled up in single cultural issues, or obsessed with
prophecy, or who read the text looking for support for their own pet ideas.
3.
Regularly read it with prayerful expectation
of God’s Spirit to speak to you. Fifteen minutes each day that are focused on
reading and meditating on the Word can be life changing.
4.
Respect it. There will be passages that
leave you wondering. Some will provoke real doubts. Others will become shining
light for your life. Regardless, treat the Word as it is – the revelation of
God to us.
This word from the Word is an inspiration. May the Spirit write
it on our hearts.
“I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.” (Psalm 119, NIV)
Let’s read the Word again and become ‘people of The
Book.
