Closeness With GodНамуна

> Study God’s Words

Devekut, is to cling to Jesus.

There’s this very confronting verse in the Bible where Jesus says to the religious leaders, “You search the scriptures intending to find eternal life but fail to see the scriptures point to me” (John 5:39)!

You’ve probably heard it said many times the Bible is the Word of God. And yet the Bible says that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1). The overarching story of the Bible points to Jesus as Savior and Lord of all Mankind, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, and the only One in which we might have Eternal Life. We search the Scriptures to find Jesus, the Author of Life.

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” Joshua 1:8,‬ ‭NLT).‬‬

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16-17,‬ ‭NLT‬‬).

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted” (John‬ ‭15:7‬, ‭NLT‬‬)!

Reading the Bible is one of the best ways to learn about who God is, what He’s like, and how He interacts with Humanity across the ages. This is why we read it regularly and study it, to learn about Him. The part that stands out to me in John 15:7 is “my words”. Jesus wants “His” Words to remain in us. Not just any words - His Words. Have you ever wondered what His Words might be?

It reminds me of the Sermon On The Mount, where Jesus repeatedly says, “You’ve heard that it was said.. but I say to you...”. You have heard it said in Deuteronomy, or in Leviticus, or in the prophets, but I say to you, this is how to interpret the Scriptures! We should read the Scriptures the way Jesus reads the Scriptures, and interpret them the way Jesus interprets them.

Jesus spoke of the Love of the Father and His desire to be One with all of us (John 17). When we read the Scriptures through Heaven's Gaze, we are influenced by His Love and Grace, His Mercy and Truth. Jesus was ridiculed as a friend of sinners and tax collectors, the marginalized and outcasts.

There’s this one time when the Law experts catch an adulterous woman and throw her to the ground in front of Jesus while He is teaching the crowds about the ways of God the Father. They demand for her to be stoned to death according to their interpretation of the Scriptures (Deut 22:21). Jesus calmly, compassionately, and mercifully uses the Scriptures to convict the condemners, and they all leave, one by one. Thus He also fulfills the Law which says nobody can be stoned to death without at least two witnesses (Deut 19:15). Interestingly, Jesus has no intention of condemning the sinful woman!

The bigger lesson here is about going deeper than just reading the Bible. Let’s study the Word of God (Jesus) and His way of reading, interpreting, and applying the Holy Scriptures.

Prayer:

Jesus, You are the Word of God. You are the Full Representation of the Godhead in bodily form. There is still so much I do not understand about Your Kingdom and the way You want things done here on Earth. Open my eyes, Lord, that I might behold wondrous Truths out of Your Words.

Let it be so, Amen.