Study 5: How do I apply this stuff?

Whilst the Bible was written in a certain context and at a certain time, the good news of Jesus and the truth of the Bible can be applied to our lives every day. You might read about a battle in the Bible or a moment of brutality—and to be fair, that’s not easy to directly apply to your life, and I don’t think we’re always suggesting that we try.

But what we can see are themes of grace, mercy, justice, hope, peace, love, and more throughout the Bible as we read it and trust it in our lives. The Bible is described as being living and active, “living oracles of Jesus,” as the Archbishop of Canterbury once said to the Queen on bent knee (in the UK, for our overseas readers!).

What I’ve discovered as I read it is that the Bible is alive and seeks places to be built in. If we allow the Bible to speak into our lives, to form foundations in our head and heart, its truth about Jesus and the rescue mission will literally transform you. I can’t really explain it better—but I’m experiencing it. Through the storms and the calm seas, the Bible and its truth have sustained me. It challenges my attitude in every area of life—things like generosity, forgiveness, patience, love, kindness, compassion, honesty, integrity, holiness, and so much more.

The Bible will shape and calibrate your compass, because it is living and active. It will challenge you too—and sometimes that can be an uncomfortable process. You might be reading this and thinking, “Mate, it’s a book? What are you on about?”

Trust me—read it, be honest, and spend some time with the Gospels, and see if you start to see Jesus for yourself. What also happens is that as God helps us read it and apply it to our lives, it can be described as revelation. God reveals this stuff to us through the Holy Spirit.

Okay, I know—I’ve started talking about something else! We’ll come back around to discovering more about the Holy Spirit in another study, so hold on.

It’s also worth saying here that a Christian community is really helpful in wrestling with and learning from the Bible. Find a local church to be part of and take your questions there. It’s good to have questions—I’ve got loads! So get plugged in and involved—it really will help you.

You can also read the Bible alongside someone else too. It really will speak into your life—if you let it.