Last week I was reading the bible and I came across a verse that made me stop and think. My whole life I have focused on verses like 2 Tim. 3:16 which focuses on the scriptures training us for righteousness and equipping us. I also looked at verses like Acts 17:11 which stresses the importance of constantly being in the scriptures and verifying truth. These are all good things. We should be in the scriptures for all these reasons, but as I came across this verse it made me think again about what role the scriptures has in my life.
The verse I read was John 5:39-40 "Ye (which is you plural in English) search the Scriptures because ye think in them ye have eternal life but those writings are the ones testifying about me, 40. but you do not want to come to me that you may have life." (Marshall Translation) This verse made me think. Might I be elevating the Scriptures to the point where I forget Who it is all about? The scriptures point us to God and it is He that saves us. Are the scriptures just about knowledge for knowledge's sake? No. I think this is what Jesus is talking about. They knew the scriptures about Jesus, but would not put that knowledge into action through faith in the Messiah. If you learn about Jesus, but do not believe, what value is it to you? Knowledge of Christ does not save us, but believing in the Messiah that the Bible points out, does.
This is similar to some other themes in the Bible, like James 1:23, which says to take action on what we learn from the scriptures. If you know that God wants you to tell people about Him and you do not do it, what value is it? The scriptures are very important. They point us to Jesus and what is true. The study of scripture is not an end in itself. God is our ultimate and only end. The Bible shows us who He is and what He want us to do. There are two ways to study the scriptures: We can study to know the facts of the Bible, or study to have God's truth affect how we think, feel, and act. I know, for the most part, people in the church know what God wants them to do but many do not do it.
My call is for us to look at ourselves and see if we just have a lot of facts in our head, or are we learning, growing, and transforming to be more like Jesus Christ who gives us life. We need to let the scriptures show us how we are to live (Heb. 4:12). Think about a truth. Is that truth affecting you to your core? How does this truth need to change you to get to that point?
Vitapastor
Marshall
Copywright 2012 Marshall
The verse I read was John 5:39-40 "Ye (which is you plural in English) search the Scriptures because ye think in them ye have eternal life but those writings are the ones testifying about me, 40. but you do not want to come to me that you may have life." (Marshall Translation) This verse made me think. Might I be elevating the Scriptures to the point where I forget Who it is all about? The scriptures point us to God and it is He that saves us. Are the scriptures just about knowledge for knowledge's sake? No. I think this is what Jesus is talking about. They knew the scriptures about Jesus, but would not put that knowledge into action through faith in the Messiah. If you learn about Jesus, but do not believe, what value is it to you? Knowledge of Christ does not save us, but believing in the Messiah that the Bible points out, does.
This is similar to some other themes in the Bible, like James 1:23, which says to take action on what we learn from the scriptures. If you know that God wants you to tell people about Him and you do not do it, what value is it? The scriptures are very important. They point us to Jesus and what is true. The study of scripture is not an end in itself. God is our ultimate and only end. The Bible shows us who He is and what He want us to do. There are two ways to study the scriptures: We can study to know the facts of the Bible, or study to have God's truth affect how we think, feel, and act. I know, for the most part, people in the church know what God wants them to do but many do not do it.
My call is for us to look at ourselves and see if we just have a lot of facts in our head, or are we learning, growing, and transforming to be more like Jesus Christ who gives us life. We need to let the scriptures show us how we are to live (Heb. 4:12). Think about a truth. Is that truth affecting you to your core? How does this truth need to change you to get to that point?
Vitapastor
Marshall
Copywright 2012 Marshall
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