Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
Last Sunday we observed how the Bible is a love letter to us from our Heavenly Father, in which He makes Himself known to us, reveals His love for us, and directs us to a full and meaningful life as His followers. One of remarkable things in reading the Gospels is how often Jesus assumed people read and understood God’s Word. Consider these statements by Jesus:
Mt. 12:3, regarding the Sabbath – “Have you not read what David did?”
Mt. 19:4, concerning divorce and remarriage – “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?”
Mt. 21:16, regarding true worship and praise – “Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have prepared praise for Yourself.'”
Mt. 21:42, dealing with resurrection – “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.'”
Lk. 10:26, to the lawyer who asked about eternal life – “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
Paul echoes this theme.
I Cor. 1:13 – “We write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end.”
Eph. 3:3 – “When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”
Col. 4:16 – “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.”
I Thes. 5:27 – “I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.”
Both Jesus and Paul assumed the people of God would read the word of God. Of course they did, for the eternal God, Creator of all, has spoken to us His truth about Himself, life, purpose, sin, salvation, eternity, etc. Through His word God teaches us His truth, guides our lives, shapes our character, deepens our relationship with Him, gives us hope, etc. Why would we not read it?
We must regularly read God’s word so it is the foundation of our lives. As followers of Jesus, our lives must be rooted in and shaped by God’s word. So I encourage you to make the study of Scripture part of your regular routine, for your own sake, as well as for your service to the church.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob