tools for you
Take It Personally
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love..." (1 John 4:16 NIV).
As "God's Word", the Bible is intensely intimate on two levels: First, it is God's self-revelation - it's what God wants to say about Himself. And second, it's what He wants to say to us. He wants us to take it to heart. To take it personally.
Unfortunately, the more we become familiar with God's Word, we sometimes begin to take it for granted. To stop hearing God's awesome Voice behind His holy Word. "Deep calls to deep," but sometimes I wade in the shallow waters of over-familiarity and a "knowledge" that can do nothing but "puff up."
Take, for example, 1 Corinthians 13, the "love chapter." Its poetry graces the weddings of Christians and non-Christians alike. Its simplicity becomes profound in the early days of our discipleship. But as we mature, this revolutionary passage tends to get left behind like an old bike. Yet this is one of the most personal (and practical) guides to Christlikeness, as well as an amazing revelation of God's love for you & me. Consider this:
"I am patient with you. I am kind to you. I am not easily angered by you. I keep no record of your wrongs. I rejoice as you discover and walk in truth. I always protect you. I trust you. I always hope and believe in the best in you. I won't give up on you. I will never fail you."
Signed,
Your Father
Doesn't your heart want to leap up and shout with all of its being, "I love You too, God! I'm amazed by You! I'll give my whole life living for Your glory!" Well, unless you're stunned into grateful, awe-filled silence, that is.
Into The Deep Waters
Obviously, God's Word isn't shallow, and it doesn't get old or irrelevant. But sometimes our hearts need to be revived so we can come to the Word with a renewed humility and faith. We need "ears to hear" again.
"...anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
If we're to dive into the deep waters of God's Word, then we must come with faith, expecting that God is near and that He will reward me with Himself. We come seeking Him, not just His blessings or "direction" - it's always about Him. So we lay down our pride, confess our sin, praise Him for His mercy and submit to His Sovereignty. We pray that His Spirit would speak to us, and we seek Him.
OK, but sometimes we just need to get over ourselves. We need a fresh way to look at the Scriptures. Here are a few ideas to help "jumpstart" our hearts:
1. Read the passage in a different version.
2. Read it backwards!
3. Personalize it (as above - just be careful that you do it in context)
4. Meditate on it
No Substitute
As helpful as these tips may be, they're no substitute for the work of the Holy Spirit in opening up the Scriptures to us. Nor is there any substitute for James' admonition to "not merely listen to the Word... but to do what it says." That's faith. That's relying on God's Word. That's holding to Jesus' teaching. And that's how we will really know the truth that will set us free.
Amen and amen!
selah
pause. meditate.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
- Love is patient, love is kind... it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
