“…so is my word that comes from my mouth; it
does not return to me empty.
Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes
what I intend.”
Isaiah 55:11 (Common English Bible)
Reading the
Bible, with a fresh and alert mind, impacts and stirs the reader in
extraordinary and often unanticipated ways. Because the printed words belong to
a real, present, and active God, the words are used imaginatively and
purposefully, in a tailored fashion, for each individual reader. Reading the
Bible is never a solo activity. God, in the Holy Spirit, is always present,
accomplishing a purposeful work in the mind and heart of the individual who
comes expectant to experience something new. When the mind is dull and expects
little from reading the Bible, this dynamic and amazing power is absent. In my
own engagement with the Bible each morning, I experience three reoccurring
themes.
First, the
Bible reveals the purposefulness of God. Perhaps in no other place in scripture
is this more clearly and directly presented than in the twelfth chapter of
Genesis, verses 1-3: God promises to bless Abraham. But, with penetrating
clarity, this blessing is ultimately for the purpose of blessing all of
humanity. A blessing to all people, of all nations, is the bottom line of God’s
promise to Abraham. God’s unfolding purpose may be too vast and, at times,
imperceptible, to be grasped this side of the grave, but, at least, we are
assured by the Bible that the world has been delivered from meaninglessness.
With this knowledge, we can live quietly and confidently, trusting the care of
the future to God.
Second, the
Bible reveals God’s call upon each person. Assuming a robust theological
posture, the Apostle Paul declares in Ephesians 2:10 that we were, “…created in
Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way
that we live our lives.” Candidly, Paul corrects the notion that followers of
Jesus Christ are to participate, here and there, in good work. No; good work,
or doing good things, is to be our way of life. It is all part of God’s divine
activity that our own lives be caught-up in the one grand purpose that God is
continually unfolding in the world. Each person’s life is made integral to
God’s resolve to gather the nations under the Lordship of his son, Jesus
Christ.
Third, the
Bible reveals God’s power. God is not defeated. With panoramic vision, Paul
captures the human condition in Romans 8: “Who will separate us from Christ’s
love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine,
or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, we are being put to death
all day long for your sake. We are treated like sheep for slaughter. But in all
these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us.” (Verses
35-37 CEB) Contrary to appearances, difficulties, hardships, and death will not
defeat God and those who belong to God. Struggle will certainly manifest itself
in every life. But at the end we will discover that our life has been guided
and loved, and that disaster is over-ruled. More, we will find that nothing of
value is lost.
Joy,
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