The thing I’m most passionate about in my work, the thing that has driven me for decades, the thing I never weary of, is encouraging people toward an increasingly deep connection (abiding) w/Jesus through the reading & study of Scripture IN SUCH A WAY that transforms the life.->
Often we’re most passionate about the things that deeply changed us. I was raised in church to appreciate & revere Scripture as authoritative, God-breathed, & to love & serve Jesus. In my college & young adult years I read Scripture as a spiritual discipline. That’s a good thing.
I still do. It is part of my daily practice. But then at 27, I studied under a teacher that loved Scripture more than his next breath & did not keep it in his head but let it have the whole of him. You could not miss Jesus in that man. I began to beg God to give me that passion.
That was a really roundabout way to get to this: one key to a more meaningful reading of Scripture that causes deeper connection to Jesus is to slow down with it. Let the words sink in. Jot down a few things. Pause. Ask Him questions about it. Let prayer flow from it. Respond.->
God is talking to you through His word. Talk back. Yes, Bible reading is a spiritual discipline but it is also the invitation to DIALOGUE. Engage. Abide. Talk to Jesus about it. This has greatly helped me & I want so much to help others find enjoyment & transformation in reading.
My reading this morning was John 16. It is so gorgeous that I wept all the way through the 2nd half of it. Tears are not the point. But being moved by the Holy Spirit through the study of Scripture certainly is. Moved to love. To change. To action. To repentance. Or deeper trust.
I just want to remind you that the high calling of reading & studying Scripture is not to know Scripture better. It’s not so you can debate it & hate with it. It is to know Christ our Lord. To love Him. And to believe Him when He says,
“Be courageous! I’ve conquered the world.”
“Be courageous! I’ve conquered the world.”
