Not a mirror, but a window

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  –Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
 
I’m doing something new this year – I’m reading through the Bible with my wife. We’ve had a habit of spending regular time with God, but we’ve not been successful at maintaining a rhythm that allowed us to do that together. In last week's post, we made a case for the value of spending time in the Word. This week we’ll explore some recommendations for pursuing that adventure in a way that allows us to get the most from our investment.
 
Scripture is not a mirror, but a window. If we read to see ourselves – what am I supposed to do, how does this apply to me, why is my life still a mess – we will miss a lot. Some of those things will surface naturally in the process, but the Bible is not a rule book or a self-help manual. God gifted us with the Bible to show us who He is. When we read looking for Him, He will reveal Himself, and that is the beauty of Scripture. That’s why we can read it repeatedly and always come away with something new and worthwhile. We will not plumb the depths of the infinite Eternal One in the span of a human life.
 
The Bible is not an encyclopedia of random legends that sample God’s interactions with ancient people. Rather, it’s a collection of Spirit-inspired writings, from many writers over many years in many literary styles, that comprise one over-arching story of the God who has stubbornly continued to love and rescue and woo His creation over thousands of generations. When we view the Bible through that lens, themes emerge that introduce, then illuminate, then reinforce the character of God. What will we see?
 
Instead of being dry lists of unpronounceable names, genealogies become families of real people, tied to one another, who carried the baton during their generation and passed it on to the next in a way that was notable enough to have their names etched forever into the permanent record.
 
Tedious and obscure lists of dietary and behavioral laws, seen by some as nit-picky evidence of a god who seemed to be an obsessive control freak intent on dooming humans to failure, become a picture of holiness and health and harmony that point to our need for a Savior who can get us there.
 
Punishment of the wicked, criticized by some as arbitrary and cruel, comes only after generations worth of second chances and prophetic warnings, and almost always with a glimmer of hope for mercy and redemption. Even the critics have to admit that evil exists and a God who wouldn’t ultimately hold the wicked accountable could hardly be considered “good”.
 
Will there be things in there that are hard to understand? Of course! Put a pin in those and keep reading. Scripture is often its own best expositor. There are dots to connect, and we’ll get better at it with practice. Don’t ask the Bible to answer questions it wasn’t written to answer. Remember the purpose of Scripture – to reveal God. The Bible is true, and archeology and science have proven it to be so time and again, but it’s neither a history book nor a science book.
 
Now for the tools: These are all free for you to download to your device.

 
Jump in, boys. Nothing we do will yield more lasting positive impact than getting to know our Maker better through immersing ourselves in His Word.

Scott Thompson