- 2 Tim 3:16-17: “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 straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”
- 2 Pet. 1:20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.”
Floyd Schneider: A Christian university student shared a room with a Muslim. As they became friends, their conversation turned to their beliefs. The believer asked the Muslim if he’d ever read the Bible. He answered no, but then asked if the Christian had ever read the Koran. The believer responded, “No, I haven’t, but I’m sure it would be interesting. Why don’t we read both together, once a week, alternating books?” The young man accepted the challenge, their friendship deepened, and during the second term he became a believer in Jesus. One evening, late in the term, he burst into the room and shouted at the long-time believer, “You deceived me!” “What are you talking about?” the believer asked. The new believer opened his Bible and said, “I’ve been reading it through, like you told me, and just read that the Word is living and active!” He grinned. “You knew all along that the Bible contained God’s power and that the Koran is a book like any other. I never had a chance!”
I’ve found the Bible to be totally relevant and in life is my constant companion. It is an ongoing witness to the reality of the Living God. It is the Book through which God has revealed Himself and it directs us to the One (Jesus Christ) who is God’s final revelation. I take it on vacation with me. I seek to read and meditate on it every day. I never make a major decision without its counsel. I love to preach from it, learn from it seeking to constantly apply it to my life. My practice: Read through the Bible (Genesis-Revelation) seeking to read a Chapter a day since approximately 1974. I also aim to read approximately seven psalms and one chapter from Proverbs each day (Book of Proverbs and Psalms each month). This is my discipline but others do it differently, its not the amount we read but how we apply it!
- Anon: “A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us.”
The Bible reveals that God has a plan and purpose even when we don’t understand what He is doing. He feels our pain as well as sharing our joys and is concerned for the whole person. We can be so intellectual in our approach, even well researched and completely biblical, but if there is no conviction that the Bible is so relevant for life and death what are we saying, if anything? Charles H. Spurgeon: “Conviction is the best form of eloquence.”
- Head knowledge needs to penetrate the heart (the centre of our lives!) The Christian’s inability to communicate the Bible or fail to devote time and energy to studying it doesn’t make it irrelevant!
The Bible is relevant as God continues to speak today, continuing to change lives and challenging our secular mindset. He challenges the culture as well as the society as a whole!
“Speak Lord your servant is listening!”
Your friend and pastor
Jim