January 7, 2023

John 5: 39, 40 “You diligently study the Scripture because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (NIV)

It has been said of Scripture, “No matter where you cut it, it will bleed Christ.”*

When I was in school, there were subjects that I just didn’t get. I could study for the tests, memorize all the pertinent data, and even ace the test – all without comprehending the material. Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees had the same propensity for missing the point.

The Bible contains lots of facts – numbers, dates, rules, genealogies – but the facts aren’t the message. The purpose of Scripture is to testify about Jesus. Often we read the Bible as if we are studying for a test. (In Bible college, that’s exactly what I did!) Perhaps you teach a class or lead a group and you dig deep into scripture in order to prepare your lessons. Even preachers can write and deliver a powerful sermon without being touched by the message. When we treat the Bible as merely a textbook or research material, we probably aren’t finding Jesus.

You may have obligations that require you to search Scripture for facts, but when you get into the word for your own spiritual experience, look for Jesus. Open the pages prayerfully and expectantly. The Holy Spirit speaks through the word to testify about Jesus and to bring us life. Don’t be a Pharisee!

The power of the Bible is not information but transformation.*