A general faith in the truth of God’s written Word is the primary foundation of the Christian soldier’s character. He is what he is, does what he does, thinks as he thinks, acts as he acts, hopes as he hopes, behaves as he behaves, for one simple reason—he believes what is laid down in Holy Scripture. — JC Ryle

The writings of all the holy fathers should be read only for a time, in order that through them we may be led to the Holy Scriptures. As it is, however, we read them only to be absorbed in them and never come to the Scriptures. We are like men who study the sign-posts and never travel the road. The dear fathers wished by their writing, to lead us to the Scriptures, but we so use them as to be led away from the Scriptures, though the Scriptures alone are our vineyard in which we ought all to work and toil.

Let the man who would hear God speak, read Holy Scripture. — Martin Luther

For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? — Jeremiah 23:18, 28-29

… he (Moses) said to them (Israelites), “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life … “ — Deuteronomy 32:46-47a

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. — Acts 17:11

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The thoughts and passages given above are true and have proven true to me over the years. The Word of God is an anchor to the mind, heart and soul of the believer. His Word is also a comfort and guide and the clearest revelation He has given us of Himself, His Son, His Spirit and His purposes.

I’ve found through the years the great benefit that comes from regularly reading through the entire Bible. This practice pushes me away from familiar passages that I like most or most easily understand and focuses me on aspects of God and His purposes that don’t fit at all with modern sensitivities and sensibilities. The creation story, the conquest of the Promised Land, the book of Job and the many descriptions of God’s wrath in the prophetic narratives are just a few of these.

And the perplexing and wonderful thing is that in these descriptions of God and His purposes, the “difficult” parts are not explained away, apologized for or redacted—though all must be measured and understood by the whole of Scripture. God through Isaiah in Isaiah 40:9 commands God’s people to “Behold Your God!” It will not do for us to behold only certain aspects of God. We must learn to behold Him as fully as the Scriptures puts Him forward, including the comforting parts and the troubling parts. As I’ve wrestled to understand God as He is revealed in all of Scripture, I’ve come to see the truth of Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s revelation of Himself to us in the Word isn’t an adapting of Himself to us, it is rather a revelation of who He is that includes a call for me to repent, believe and follow, by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Once while addressing a crowd Jesus asked them what they went out to see when they went out to see John the Baptist. He suggests that they went out to see a prophet but that in John they saw a man who was much more than just a prophet. A similar question is appropriate to us every time we read God’s Word—“What are we expecting to see?” However we reply to that question, as we read through all of God’s Word, we come to realize that God and His purposes are much more than we imagined. This is the God we behold, these are His purposes and promises to which He calls us. It is all much more than we in this life will ever get our heads around. And it blows apart our modern sensitivities and sensibilities.

As a Christian leader I must remember that to represent God well in my spheres of influence, I must humbly go to the Word again and again and learn more and more about God, His purposes and promises. I must read all that it says about Him. Though I’ve done so consistently for nearly 50 years, there is still more for me to learn, to believe and to follow. For I know it is true that the most trustworthy and God-honoring leaders are those who through years have been shaped by God through His Word.

The revelation of God in the Bible shows me that He is my Father, His Son is my savior, brother and friend and His Spirit is my guide, sanctifier and comforter. And it tells me a whole lot more than that. As Moses told the Israelites, the Word is not an empty word for me, it is rather my very life.

Take it to the Lord

Read through this meditation again, asking God to open your eyes, mind, heart and soul to His message for you today.
As He speaks to you, listen. Ask Him to guide you as to what you should do with what He says and for the grace to do so.
End your time with some form of worship – prayer, praise, thanksgiving or surrender.

It Is Your Very Life

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