DON'T JUST INTERPRET IT, BUT APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE!!!
John 3:5, 30; Gal 2:20-21; Phil. 3:10!
Unfortunately a lot of Christians think that all we have to do is read the Bible, and do what it says, and there is nothing to interpret. Or they will react against the educated "professional" Christian who is a teacher, scholar or pastor. They see that person taking the Bible away from them, and wrapping it in confusion. They do not want the Bible to be some kind of obscure book they cannot understand. But what they are in fact doing is reading the Bible without any understanding and making excuses for it and it is very doubtful they are doing what it says! (Of course some scholar's love to wrap things in confusion!)
· Some Christians have no problems with interpretation, it is the application and obedience that they have trouble with. We tend to understand the precepts of the Bible so well that we will rationalize them away, such as "do everything without complaining or arguing" (Phil. 2:14). Thus we complain and argue all the time.
· The primary goal of interpretation is to find the "plain meaning" of the Bible!
REMEMBER: BE SURE TO INCORPORATE WHAT YOU KNOW INTO YOUR LIFE!!!
There are too many people in the world who just do not get it! Just as the Pharisees asked Jesus for a miracle after He fed over 4,000 people! Just as some crazy guy was screaming at the airport ticket person to get on his flight after they announced the airport is closed due to fog. Just as so many Christians sit in their pews every Sunday and do nothing for the Lord; they just do not get it! (Mark 8)
One of the great things about the Bible is it is honest with the characters that it portrays. If we were to write such a book, would we explain our weakness and stupidity, or how great we are? The Bible reveals the good, the bad, and the ugly, and it will with us too!
"You search the scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me" (John 5:39)
The question is do we get it?
Since the Bible is God's authoritative Word, we no doubt will spend more time in it! Are we prepared to allow the Word of God to get in us and make changes and to transform and renew our minds for His glory? (Romans 12)
· If the Bible is not where you place your trust, then where is your trust and where will it lead you?
· We cannot have the Words of Jesus without the Bible!
· The Bible is the chariot that carries the voice of God!
We as the people of God who have been saved from our sins by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ have a call, a mandate: to preserve His Word, and to proclaim His Word. We must remain steadfast in this call to our individual selves, as well as our neighbor.
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (Heb. 2:1-3)
Excerpt from the book, 'Into Thy Word'Order the book, 'Into Thy Word' with a 15-week curriculum!
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