I woke so early this morning. I turned the coffee pot on, went to the family room to read & wait for it to brew. I read:
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” (John 5:39 NIV84).
I paused.
“Is that not what the Scriptures bring to me? Life? When I need hope or encouragement, a word to bring peace or comfort. Is it not to Your Word that should I turn & find it?”
Those that opposed Jesus were well taught in the Scriptures. In fact, their very work was to study the Torah so they diligently studied the Scriptures. They had come to believe that this was their assurance of life in the world to come. Yet the very men that knew the Torah -the Scriptures- were the very ones to reject Jesus Himself. What they sought in the Scriptures, eternal life, could only be found in & through the Person of Jesus Christ. When He was before their very eyes, they could not see that this was the very thing He came to bring.
That is when it hit me…..
We can know the Scriptures. We can study them diligently. But it is Him, Christ Himself, that we must know & have relationship. For He IS the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:1, 2, 14 NIV84)
Jesus was the complete embodiment of God’s Word.
May we study & know the Word. But more so, may we not miss Jesus, the One & Only. The Word.
I linked with these blogs today: Unite and Titus 2 Tuesdays and Playdates With God and Teach Me Tues. and Soli Deo Gloria and Titus 2sdays and Far Above Rubies and Tell Me A Story .
Dear Joanne
This brings a song to my heart!!! I often write a post, like the one today, where I dilligently warns against deceptions doing the rounds. I know of a guy who knew the Scriptures from A-Z, yet, he didn’t believe in Jesus.
Blessings
Mia
Mia –
Thank you for your encouragement. You are appreciated.
Blessings,
Joanne
Amen! Knowledge doesn’t equal relationships. We can be full of scripture, yet empty of Christ. Filled with head knowledge…but void of heart understanding! May we seek most to know Him! To bask in the fullness of His presence & then, most of all…may scripture be LIFE! Great post shared at UNITE! Thanks! ~ Jen
Jen –
It has been a blessing finding your blog & linkup. So thank you for the encouragement & for being out there 🙂
Joanne
This is so true, we can “know” all about him, but we must “KNOW” him personally for in him is life. The letter is good, but we must have the Spirit which is life. Thank you for joining with us at “Tell Me a Story.”
Glad to have found you!