Last night I found myself tidying my dresser, upon which lies a few innocent pieces of paper. Amongst them is some slightly faded artwork, a couple of wedding invitations (because that’s what happens when you’re 27!) and an old, unimpressive piece of lined paper.
It’s this simple piece of paper that got me thinking.
On it is penned a letter. A letter written to me by my younger brother, almost five years ago, as I left for the UK. This brother isn’t necessarily prone to articulating himself in a highly emotional or particularly expressive sense (he won’t mind me saying!) so this letter is special, for several reasons.
It’s special because I know the author and I know that the words are his. It has references to stupid in-jokes (usually Miranda Sings or Little House on the Prairie - don’t ask). The words he’s chosen verify his character. It’s special because of the relational assurance it contains - and because it feels like we are physically a long way from each other, relational assurance is precious. The letter doesn’t look impressive - in many parts it’s almost illegible.
And of course, this letter made me reflect on the way our loving Heavenly Father has chosen to reveal himself to anyone who will listen. He hasn’t done so in an intellectual, far off, impersonal way - but through words: his own words, in the Bible.
a) my brother is trustworthy in his words (tells the truth) and
b) that he writes for a reason; to communicate something (the message is not meaningless or pointless)
In the same way, why would I read the Bible at all if it were not trustworthy? But on the converse, why would I not absolutely treasure the words within if they WERE proven to be trustworthy? Don’t you see? The attitude with which we read God’s word seems to be pretty binary: you either love and treasure it, or you disregard it. If I am to treasure words written to me, there is required a certain submission to the author’s intention. If I were to read my brother’s letter and decide to interpret it the way I wanted to, with complete disregard for HIS intentions as he wrote then I show myself to be uncaring and unloving towards his thoughts and feelings, and essentially this attitude unravels the entire purpose of him writing me a letter at all.
Similarly, as I approach God’s precious Word, am I careful to read as the author intended me to read? Or do I arrogantly climb into the seat of “I have a right to interpret this as I choose”? If it's not impertinent for me to say so, isn't that quite insulting to the author?
The Bible is a book that is full of promises. Some of the biggest promises are made within just the first few pages of the Bible - which makes it such a compelling read, as a whole.
In the Old Testament, it looks like these are promises just made to the Jewish people, but as it unfolds we see that the promises made are much further reaching than just to a single race. Promises of undeserved reconciliation with Creator God (Romans 5:6), promises of perseverance and purpose in suffering whilst still here on Earth (Romans 8:18-30) and promises of a new and perfect creation under the rule of a perfect King (Revelation 21, Ephesians 1). It doesn’t stop there. The world isn’t as it should be, and Christians stand with such hungry, groaning confidence that they will one day get to see this, and live under King Jesus as Lord. But we do so, because we read God’s words and believe them, because His character has integrity and he has never broken a promise. He has a perfect track record.
So while I read a letter from my brother and am so ready to believe his statements, his promises and assurance - how much MORE trustworthy is the One who has made promises through all of time and never broken one?
NB: I realise the biggest gap in my argument here is that I haven’t thoroughly explored the historical accuracy of the Bible: i.e. how do we trust that the Bible is God’s Word? I write primarily with a purpose to challenge Christians who might subscribe to the infallibility of Scripture to indeed keep treasuring his words, in the same way that we see in Luke 10:28-42. However, I do also believe there to be great evidence that the Bible is true. Below are a few resources that might help unpack that if you’re interested.
Can I Really Trust the Bible?
Taking God at His Word
Evidence For the Resurrection
Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus?
It’s this simple piece of paper that got me thinking.
On it is penned a letter. A letter written to me by my younger brother, almost five years ago, as I left for the UK. This brother isn’t necessarily prone to articulating himself in a highly emotional or particularly expressive sense (he won’t mind me saying!) so this letter is special, for several reasons.
It’s special because I know the author and I know that the words are his. It has references to stupid in-jokes (usually Miranda Sings or Little House on the Prairie - don’t ask). The words he’s chosen verify his character. It’s special because of the relational assurance it contains - and because it feels like we are physically a long way from each other, relational assurance is precious. The letter doesn’t look impressive - in many parts it’s almost illegible.
And of course, this letter made me reflect on the way our loving Heavenly Father has chosen to reveal himself to anyone who will listen. He hasn’t done so in an intellectual, far off, impersonal way - but through words: his own words, in the Bible.
A trustworthy author writing with a specific purpose
The degree to which I treasure the words written within this letter depends on two things, that:a) my brother is trustworthy in his words (tells the truth) and
b) that he writes for a reason; to communicate something (the message is not meaningless or pointless)
In the same way, why would I read the Bible at all if it were not trustworthy? But on the converse, why would I not absolutely treasure the words within if they WERE proven to be trustworthy? Don’t you see? The attitude with which we read God’s word seems to be pretty binary: you either love and treasure it, or you disregard it. If I am to treasure words written to me, there is required a certain submission to the author’s intention. If I were to read my brother’s letter and decide to interpret it the way I wanted to, with complete disregard for HIS intentions as he wrote then I show myself to be uncaring and unloving towards his thoughts and feelings, and essentially this attitude unravels the entire purpose of him writing me a letter at all.
Similarly, as I approach God’s precious Word, am I careful to read as the author intended me to read? Or do I arrogantly climb into the seat of “I have a right to interpret this as I choose”? If it's not impertinent for me to say so, isn't that quite insulting to the author?
BIG promises
One of my favourites for you to kick us off: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, no things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39The Bible is a book that is full of promises. Some of the biggest promises are made within just the first few pages of the Bible - which makes it such a compelling read, as a whole.
In the Old Testament, it looks like these are promises just made to the Jewish people, but as it unfolds we see that the promises made are much further reaching than just to a single race. Promises of undeserved reconciliation with Creator God (Romans 5:6), promises of perseverance and purpose in suffering whilst still here on Earth (Romans 8:18-30) and promises of a new and perfect creation under the rule of a perfect King (Revelation 21, Ephesians 1). It doesn’t stop there. The world isn’t as it should be, and Christians stand with such hungry, groaning confidence that they will one day get to see this, and live under King Jesus as Lord. But we do so, because we read God’s words and believe them, because His character has integrity and he has never broken a promise. He has a perfect track record.
So while I read a letter from my brother and am so ready to believe his statements, his promises and assurance - how much MORE trustworthy is the One who has made promises through all of time and never broken one?
NB: I realise the biggest gap in my argument here is that I haven’t thoroughly explored the historical accuracy of the Bible: i.e. how do we trust that the Bible is God’s Word? I write primarily with a purpose to challenge Christians who might subscribe to the infallibility of Scripture to indeed keep treasuring his words, in the same way that we see in Luke 10:28-42. However, I do also believe there to be great evidence that the Bible is true. Below are a few resources that might help unpack that if you’re interested.
Can I Really Trust the Bible?
Taking God at His Word
Evidence For the Resurrection
Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus?
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