Saturday, September 30, 2017
John 6:63 "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."
WHY READ THE BIBLE?
There was a young student who, after returning to the seminary from his second tour of summer vicaring at a congregation, strolled into the classroom and announced to his fellow students: "I'm ready to go pastor a congregation right now! Why take another year of seminary?" But that student soon discovered, upon entering his first parish following graduation, that he had much learning to do. In fact, he often wished he could return to the seminary for another few years.
It is easy, when reading the Bible, to slip into a mindset that says, "Oh, I already know all of this!" And then to skip over it. Or, when pressed for time, to skip one's daily reading. After all, "I know what's in there." True, good Christian, you do know what's in there. That's why you are a Christian -- the Spirit taught you from that God-breathed, without-error Word about your Savior. But how do we suppose that we shall continue to know what is in there? How do we expect to grow in the faith that leads to eternal life? How do we expect to "... always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you," (1 Peter 3:15) unless we continue to read that Word, study it, and learn it?
Why read the Bible? Because, as Jesus says: "The words that I speak, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). It is God's Word by which He would speak to us and by which the Holy Spirit would work and strengthen faith in God our Savior; that Word is life, spiritual life, the power for a God-pleasing life; and that Word is eternal life for us and for those with whom we share it.
-- Abridged from the "Lutheran Spokesman"
