Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
He died to atone for men’s sin,
and after three days rose again.
This is the most important fact in the universe.
I die believing in Christ.
~ Watchman Nee
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Acts 20
Oh beloved, it is true. We love to go to certain verses within the 66 (or up to 81) books of the Canon we believers recognize. And we do indeed grasp on to the truth of His Word. For true it is… It was spoken by the One who is The Truth Himself. And this fool of a writer does indeed hold to the view that all Scripture is inspired by G_d, and is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
His Word endures forever. Amen.
It does seem though, that we will go His Word like we are trying to take the sprinkles off the top of a cake, or pick a cherry off the top of a dish of ice cream. And herein lies one of the greatest problems of our time: We are fond of quoting verses, yet often miss the entire truth contained in a letter or book. And in taking the sprinkles off the top of the cake, we then try to lay them out on our feasting table and make them look like the entire banquet.
May i preach for a moment?
The books and poems and epic histories and conversations and adventures and letters contained in Holy Scripture where not written with verse marks. Modern chapters did not get added until the 13th century and verse numbers only came along 16 centuries after the New Testament texts where inspired by the Holy Spirit. Chapters and verses are extremely nifty place markers, and wonderful helps in navigating the beautiful flow of His Word to us. But they are arbitrary, human, and therefore fragmenting in their influence.
And the problem tends to grow even more tenacious, as the brambles and undergrowth of translation notes and cross-references begin to slow down our ability to simply read what He is saying to us. We sit down to read His Word and it is like navigating through the traffic-choked and speed-bump laced streets of the Asian mega-city i inhabit.
However, there is a way through this congestion. Ignore it. Read the whole part of the feast from which you are trying to gain nutrition. If you are reading a letter from Paul in the New Testament. Read it. Don’t slow down for all the notes and translations and verses and chapters. Read it like it was actually a letter from a Spirit-filled apostle to a new and growing church.
’cause it was.
Read a psalm of King David like it was written by a passionate warrior-poet, who had cast his entire existence into believing that everything G_d was, was everything he wanted to be.
’cause it was.
Read epic poetry like Job like it was about the desolation of a good man, who simply loved G_d, believed in Him, and was just trying to get some answers about why he had lost everything in his life.
’cause it was.
Read every full passage within the context of the entire body of the Word as though it were all about Jesus and His great Love towards us, and the glory He will gain by saving us.
’cause it is.
Read the beginning and middle and the end of the story like it is the most amazing truth that the G_d of all creation, in His righteousness, through His work – and for His glory – will one day make His dwelling place with us. And in that new dwelling place, nothing will hinder full communion with Himself or each other EVER AGAIN.
’cause it will be.
Oh friend. The entire Word of His word to us through Scripture is an amazing and full picture of His great Love for us. Let us ever avoid ‘picking a sprinkle’ off the top of some piece of some passage and pretend like we have eaten and comprehended a full meal.
Feast beloved. Gorge on His goodness. His Word is ever fresh, ever new – and never fails.
