So, what does that mean?
Apparently not as much as we would think. We buy them but, increasingly, we do not read
them. Most Christians desire spiritual
nourishment from the Word, but not directly. They prefer to receive their Scripture
in blogs like this one, from sermons, and in books. A majority of Christians remain
largely ignorant of Scripture passages that are outside of the tried and true
passages like Psalm 23, John 3:16, Jeremiah 29:13, etc. Before you look away
thinking that Jerry is a cranky old man intent on ‘guilting’ you, please read
on.
The Scripture is the primary way we come to know Who God Is,
How God works, and What God purposes for us.
It is not just informing, it is
transforming! Remember this passage? "How
can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you
with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your
word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:9-11,
NIV) It is healing! As I have shared before,
for months after Bev’s death, sleep came as the Psalms played on my IPad™ feeling
my head and heart with assurance of God’s love.
Do you read and know Scripture? I am forever grateful for the
teaching of the Word that came to me first through the efforts of my parents.
They took me to Sunday School and church and read the Bible in our home. My
understanding of the world around me was formed through the stories of Joseph,
Samuel, David, Jesus, and Paul. As a
result of the constant exposure to the Scripture, I learned to interpret the
events of life and the world around me through the filter of the Word. Let me
be clear. I am not one of those who has a verse for every moment, who will not
think and process. Truth is not simple, answers are not always easy to
find. Finding the way to bring the
eternal wisdom of God to bear on the challenges of life is often an act of
faith and requires discipline of mind and spirit. Then, too, I know that times come when my
rebel heart wants to throw off His reins and run head-long after my own
way! Yet, be the day bright with joyful
hope or dark with trials and sorrows, I hold tightly to what God has said in
His Word.
Jesus says that the Word of God is like seed. "What do you make of this? A farmer planted
seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it.
Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when
the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came
up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a
harvest beyond his wildest dreams."
(Matthew 13:3-9, The Message)
His friends came to Him later on and asked Him, "Why do you tell
these stories? What does a story about a
farmer planting seeds have to do with us?" And He explained, "Study
this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom
and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One
comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed
the farmer scatters on the road. "The seed cast in the gravel—this is the
person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil
of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives,
there is nothing to show for it. "The seed cast in the weeds is the person
who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more
and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes
of it. "The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in
the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:18-23, The Message)
Are you letting the seed of Truth be planted in you by
regular reading of the Word?
Do you pick up your Bible (or open the app) and soak in a Psalm,
process a chapter from the Gospels, or take challenge from a New Testament
letter?
Be like Jeremiah who exclaimed: "When
your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I
bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)
Let’s not buy Bibles to decorate our coffee tables or to
keep around like a lucky rabbit’s foot. A Bible is just a book, not a religious icon.
The words in the Book are His Word and when we read, study, and understand with
the Spirit’s guidance, we grow strong in faith, deep in conviction, and steady
in assurance.
Here is a seed. Plant it and let it grow. "But
you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are
true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the
holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive
the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired
by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is
wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what
is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
(2 Timothy 3:14-17, NLT)
__________
Abba, help me to love You with my mind as well as my heart.
Keep me from slipping into a kind of sentimental faith.
Make my mind alive to Your Truth.
Give me a readily receptive attitude that desires to know
and to do
what the Holy Scripture teaches me to do.
May the transforming power of the Bible cause my life to
Become ever brighter with Your wonderful, holy Presence.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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