Why is it so hard for people to read the Holy Bible; worse yet, why is it so difficult for some people to take the Scriptures seriously? Well, first of all, it is just a book. Right? Besides, there are plenty of divine writings out there that we have all heard of; and fiction does a good job of making them seem common and fantastical. Yet these stories, and certainly actual self-proclaimed ‘holy’ books, all stem from a source. That source is a true, real, and living divine word of God. The Bible. The Bible is so hard to read because we look at it merely as a book with human words; extremely old, human words, for that matter. Well, obviously! This is how God made himself known to us, and certainly the most understandable way he could become revealed in our insignificant, naïve minds! Is not the paradox apparent? What is worse, is that it did not work, and He actually had to send His Son; to put the Word into flesh, to help understand the love and wrath, and presence of God. The Bible is crucially important to a Christian.
In order to stay in the word, we must read the word. Habitually. The best way to do that is…do it. There is no way around it. Just read it! A lot. Practice being in the word a lot. As often and as long as you possibly can. It is the word of God. How could you not become engrossed in it at all times; confused by the mysteries of his love, humbled by the depth of his grace, or dumbstruck by the immensity of His presence? Do not be proud-hearted. As E. Stanley Jones said about the Bible, “It is God interpreting himself to us.” And, as Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly put it, “The Bible vindicates itself because it is such excellent medicine. It has never failed to cure a single patient if only he took his prescription honestly” (italics added for emphasis). The Bible is not merely a book, it is not even a religious book; and it is most certainly not an ancient fairytale. Its truths are universal; its language, convicting; its message, loving; its very existence, revelation!
So, when you read the Bible, your Bible, sit down and pour yourself into it. But not as you were pouring all your despair, hate, insecurity, or sin into a pitcher to be pitched away. When you pour yourself into scripture, it is more like a well, and it pours back. It is a refiner, it can help you produce the good fruit required of us. E. Stanley Jones suggests we “sit down every day and go over these seven things and ask yourself if you are adding them to your basic faith -- virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.” Indeed, how can we possibly even know what these things really are, let alone learn how to practice them, if we do not consult the rule book on creation, the very word of God?
No comments:
Post a Comment