How will you keep #Jesusatthecenter of your Bible Study?
The Bible reveals God so that His people can know Him and worship Him. When you open your Bible to study, do you know you are connecting with the God of the Universe, the One who created you, and the One who loves you deeply? Bible study ceases to feed our soul when we pursue only knowledge or answers instead of God Himself. How will your daily study reflect that you are pursuing God Himself?
The Bible is one magnificent inclusio. An inclusio is a literary term that reminds us that there is a beginning, a middle, and an end to its story. It also tells us that the same idea that was given at the beginning is also found at the end. The Bible begins with God’s Creation. We find God’s perfect world and His intention for the Universe in the first two chapters of Genesis. Read Genesis 1 and 2 with this in mind. The Bible is a perfect book about a perfect God redeeming an imperfect people. Why do we need redeeming?
This idea brings us to the middle of God’s story. You see God reveals His character in the Bible. His character is Holy. His holiness sets Him apart from all of His creation. He is Infinite, He has no boundaries, nothing contains Him. He is Triune and personal. This means that He reveals Himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, yet He is One and cannot be divided. He is Sovereign and rules His entire creation. So, how does a holy, infinite, personal, and sovereign God allow His world to be broken?
God created everything to reveal Himself and His Glory to His creation. This is His world and #HIStory. The entire world became broken when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the only thing in all of creation that was forbidden to them, and their sin was catastrophic not only for them but for all humanity and all creation. However, our lives can be transformed when we encounter the Living God in His word and submit ourselves to Him. So how will your daily study of the Bible reflect that you are searching for God Himself?
Are you looking at it through your broken glasses? Sin brought death and destruction. Jesus, God’s Son, brings life and eternity. He reversed the brokenness, He reversed the curse for all who trust in Him, the Living Savior. Jesus was in the beginning and the Bible reveals that He is the Living Savior. The Bible tells the story of God’s Son who is the center of all things. Jesus is the center of the Bible. Jesus lived, died, was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Jesus is coming again!
Will you surrender to the Living Savior? What does surrender look like? First. it means to be real with God. He is your Creator and it is His purpose for you to know Him. Frame reality through His eyes, recognize Him at work around you. Seek to understand Him. When you begin to look with His eyes, you will find that you are imperfect and He knows what is best. Repent from the illusion that you have control and then ask Him out loud for instruction on life. Worship Him for who He is. He is holy, infinite, personal, and sovereign. The Bible reveals God so that His people can know Him and worship Him.
Be Real with God. Look at reality with a biblical worldview.
Be Repentant. Repent from any illusions you have that you are in control.
Be Open for God’s instruction.
Be Worshipful. Know that God is the Author of your life.
Be Humble. God is Sovereign.
The Bible tells One Story, God’s story and His story gives direction and purpose to our stories. As we look through time we see all along and at the end that #GodWins! Jesus redeemed creation at the cross and in the book of Revelation we see the consummation of #HIStory. At His first coming Jesus fulfilled the Law, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin, was resurrected and ascended to sit at the Father’s right hand. At His second coming, Jesus will raise all those who have surrendered their lives to Him to eternal life and judge those who reject Him. He will usher in the new heavens and the new earth, where He will reign and live with His people forever. The Bible is a perfect book about a perfect God, explaining the perfect redemption of an imperfect people, one grand story, one magnificent inclusio and it includes you and it includes me. God wants to fix our brokenness. He loves you and He wants you back!
How will you keep the Person of God and your search for Him in His Word be the center of your daily study?
Learn to read the Bible as if for the first time…
Read Thoughtfully. When you come to the Bible put your thinking cap on.
Read Repeatedly. Read over and over… use different translation… listen to audio.
Read Patiently. Be patient with the text… and with yourself.
Read Selectively. Selective Bible reading involves asking the Who? What? Where? When? Why?
Read Prayerfully. Before reading, during reading, and after reading…
Read Imaginatively. Approach the Bible with enthusiasm. Clothe the facts of the passage with fascination.
Read Meditatively. Allow God’s Word to filter through your mind and into your life. It calls for quiet thinking.
Read Purposefully. Purposeful reading looks for the aim of the author. No scripture is there by accident. Discern meaning.
Read Telescopically. Telescopic reading means viewing the parts in light of the whole.
Read Acquisitively. Eager to get and keep something… Read to pursue a relationship with God Himself…
God’s story includes His provision of redemption for His people. How will you seek Him as you ponder the truth of His word as you study the Bible each day? The Bible reveals God so that His people can know Him and worship Him.
