Dear brothers & sisters,
I write to you this week concerning the holy Scriptures, contained in the Old and New Testaments, which are as Paul says "breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16). That is to say, they are truly His words for holy men of God spoke as they were "carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20). Of these words, we are told, "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:5-6). Of them, David wrote "by them you have given me life" (Psalm 119:93). These sacred words are "able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14), indeed as Christ's word they are "spirit and life" (John 6:63).
We know this, at least in theory, but do we live as though we cannot live without them?
How then shall we live, with such a gift?
- We ought to think more upon God's word than any other voices.
Having God's own word, we should take every spare moment to "Hear from God, Talk with God, and Obey God" reliant on Christ who gives us strength.
But, what about the parts I don't understand?
Good question! The Apostle Peter wrote,
15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.
According to Peter, some things of God are difficult to understand and therefore, may be twisted by the "ignorant and unstable". In light of the danger, Peter warns us to be on guard and to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".
Brothers and sisters, you and I won't understand it all - we're limited in wisdom, energy, & time - but there is a consistent, reasonable, true way to make sense of what you and I don't understand. So don't give up.
Some days the Bible may seem like a giant puzzle too daunting to put together. You've got the cross and the empty tomb (the things of first importance), but you're a bit fuzzy on how the rest goes together. Other days you might think you've figured it all out, only to discover you may not have as much put together as you think.
Whether you feel you don't have a clue where to start or you think you have a pretty good handle on the Word of God,
- Don't throw out the bits that don't make sense.
- Do ask God for wisdom to understand His ways (James 1:5).
- Do search the Scriptures, for "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter." (Proverbs 25:2).
- Do seek the wisdom of other godly Christians for "iron sharpens iron and so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).
- Do be willing to accept a degree of mystery for "the secret things belong to the Lord our God" (Deuteronomy 29:29).
- Do keep the main things the main thing. Having all knowledge is not as important as "Faith, Hope, and above all Love" (1 Corinthians 13:2, 13).
One day, the picture will come together perfectly for us and it'll all be worthwhile. Until then keep studying God's word and looking to Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27). "This is what we should (in short) seek in the whole of Scripture. Truly to know Jesus Christ and the infinite riches that are comprised in him and are offered to us by him from God the Father... If one were to sift thoroughly the law and the prophets, he would not find a single word which would not draw and bring us to Him" - John Calvin.
Grace & Peace,
Matt
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Matthew Deneault
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