A Thought

“We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”  2 Peter 1:19-20 NKJV

“If you desire to read the scripture in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

1. To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose? 
2. At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one? 
3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it? In order to know his will, you should, 
4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness. 
5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing "scripture can only be understood thro' the same Spirit whereby it was given." Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts. 
6. It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise (or a moment of humility, says me!), where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short.

And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.” – John Wesley

Wesley understood what Peter was referring to as we are reminded by these men of God that Holy Scripture as the revealed Word of the Lord cannot be read apart from the Lord.  I think of the many “pop culture” Bible teachers who are making tons of money selling their own interpretation series and tools, and people are eating these resources up!  Why?  Because these are, by and large, “bible-lite”; that is, they “taste great [but] are less filling”.  There is a potential danger in these Bible study “tools” that are designed not exclusively to teach or to convey the Scriptural truth of the Lord’s will; they are designed primarily to sell … period.  Worse still is that we tend to gravitate toward those persons whose works align with our already-made-up minds.  We are not looking to learn anything; we are looking to have what we think we already know affirmed, much in the same way many “shop” for a church.  They claim they are looking for a preacher who will “tell the truth”, but often that “truth” is relative only to what these “shoppers” already believe.

Let us learn to look more deeply into Scripture.  Let us remember our Lord’s words to His prophet Isaiah: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (55:8-9).

Pray with an open heart, and read with an open mind.  I think we might all be surprised by what the Lord truly has to say to His beloved Church.

Blessings,

Michael