For This Reason 49

[HKHaugan]

By now it has to be apparent that the Word, Holy Scripture, the Bible, is the focalizing 20/20 for seeing God and eternity while we are living in this world's hazy atmosphere. The Bible is the foglamp that clarifies our path and the steps to remain on it. As Paul says, “Now we see through a glass darkly...we know in part...(1Cor.13:12).” 'See' and 'know' are the operative words here. The Bible gives us spiritual vision and heart knowledge both of which are personal and just as real if not more real than what the physical senses send to our brain. It is more than emotional reaction, intellectual reasoning and deductive experience in the unseen. It is the whole of our internal processing as 'I am' beings who are individual unique persons.

The processing we do is based on our self-conscious need to respond in every next moment. This self-consciousness is what God has built in us as images of Him and His Word. This means His Word is the only means by which we can grasp what and how to be that image. How we process our image is carefully and perfectly assembled in the person of Jesus and spelled out in His Word. The effect it has on each of us personally is what God uses to bring us into His working design. It guides the invisible 'seeing' and 'knowing' we do from within that define what we mean when we say character. Peter puts it this way, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins (2Peter 1:5-9).”

Each of the qualities mentioned is how the Holy Spirit works through Scripture to open us to Jesus. Each has its Scriptural source. With them He shapes the image of God in us through three basic practices, study, meditation and application.

First, studying the Bible involves reading it with purpose in mind. The Bible's built in purpose is to reveal the person and character of the Lord Jesus. Every single one of its documents gives us pieces of His person when put together, unbind us from our sinful nature and rebind us to Him. The more we know about Him the more we can know Him. This is how the Holy Spirit reshapes us. We read about Jesus, to know Him and to be like Him. We search the Word to look for His image and likeness. We see Him in the characters in the Bible who are touched by Him, led by Him and who struggle with Him. Then we see ourselves with Him as our mirror. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Tim.3:16-17).”

As people ask me how to study it I usually encourage them to start with the Gospel of John and read it like a novel just to get to know Jesus the person, what He did, how He reacted and the responses He got along the way. Then do the same with Matthew, Mark and Luke in that order. Once you are acquainted with Him you begin looking back at the history that prepared for His coming, the Old Testament. Read it for the events and the people who are portrayed there. It's not how much you remember, it's how much you simply trust the Holy Spirit to see Jesus as you go. If memorization helps, great. But it's really all about letting the Spirit impress you along the way, realizing its themes and being fascinated with what you are inspired to see. You can even write down some of these personal impressions, go back and read them, then see where you have changed and where you are growing.

Now here's the attitude that makes the most sense to me when we come to the Bible. The Bible was written to you and me so that we can know Jesus personally. So, what does it say to you about Him and about you as you read it? It's this approach that brings its written words alive. Then you know the Holy Spirit is right there with you.

Second, meditation is the way we are gripped by a certain passage or verse or theme and stop to consider why it has that momentary effect. Of course you can plan a meditation but for me its that momentary effect I see as the Spirit wanting me to delve more deeply. A simple prayer like “Lord, help me to see why you are wanting me to get into this right now and thank you for doing it.” When I said 'personal' I meant personal. Try it. You'll like it. For me writing has been meditory (my word) and with the urge to share it with others. This doesn't mean it is profound or it has never been thought of before. Certainly not. But when my eyes see something that to me is significant I find it has been helpful in the sharing. Some of my more brilliant colleagues seem a bit condescending sometimes as though I need more theological understanding but when something hits you personally you know that God has done something special for you. So meditation can be structured or 'spur of the moment' inspiration but it is allowing ourselves to be open to wherever the Spirit leads.

One more thing needs to be said here and that is the devil is at work to take what we think and get us to misuse it. It's good to share what you receive with brothers and sisters in the Body to make sure it doesn't cause your wheels to go off the tracks. Insights that come from meditation need checking with those who have gifts of discernment and prayer. Being a disciple of Jesus is being a part of the Body and what we are given is something that helps the Body to grow, others to hear our testimony and the world to see our witness. “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love (Ps.48:9).”

Third, we take what Scripture gives us and apply it. Application is extending ourselves into the world of people. When we grow in the Word it builds in us the desire to share it. That is the Spirit moving in us, in our mind, heart and spirit, to let it loose. But not necessarily in words. It comes out in the attitude we exude relationally. How people hear our words is in the attitude with which they are conveyed. That's the way we process how others present themselves, attitude. Our words are only as meaningful and effective as the attitude out of which they come. Attitude is how believers and unbelievers alike sense our integrity, thus whether or not they can trust us. This is why the first place we open up is in the Body. That's our training ground. The Body is the safe place, hopefully, to let our attitude become more like Christ. The Body of Christ is His planned grouping to grow us attitudinally. The Body of Christ is our spiritual maturation family. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom.12:1-2).”