This afternoon I went for a hike. There is a "Urban Wilderness Area" here. I have hiked all over the eastern side of of the wilderness but have never ventured into the western side. Someone asked me to lead a group on a five mile hike and the trail on the western side is about five miles so I hiked it today so I would know where to lead the group tomorrow.
The trail is fairly well marked. But at one crucial point it was not. I could not find where the trail went and it took me about 45 minutes to locate the proper direction. I had a map of sorts but no compass. Parts of the trail were stunning. If it were not for the fact that from time to time I could still hear cars on the freeways that surround the area I would have forgotten I was still at home.
Studying the Bible is much like finding a new trail. I wander through a passage with a map that is the structure of the study that I use. I look for indications in the book, trail blazes so to speak, to indicate the direction I should go. Sometimes I get bogged down or lost and it takes some time to get reoriented. More often than not I am stunned by the beauty of what I see in His Word.
The trail is fairly well marked. But at one crucial point it was not. I could not find where the trail went and it took me about 45 minutes to locate the proper direction. I had a map of sorts but no compass. Parts of the trail were stunning. If it were not for the fact that from time to time I could still hear cars on the freeways that surround the area I would have forgotten I was still at home.
Studying the Bible is much like finding a new trail. I wander through a passage with a map that is the structure of the study that I use. I look for indications in the book, trail blazes so to speak, to indicate the direction I should go. Sometimes I get bogged down or lost and it takes some time to get reoriented. More often than not I am stunned by the beauty of what I see in His Word.
What a thrill this can make immersion in God's Word. He is infinite, and if I don't at least occasionally find something new, puzzling, startling, that propels me on some sort of discovery I know it's not His fault; it's got to be mine.
ReplyDeleteI've spent several weeks in Genesis 1-3 lately. How many times have I read, read about, memorized, heard it taught and preached on and studied it myself and thought about it - I can't count.
About three weeks ago I was yanked out of what mental and spiritual stupor I may have been in by the four words by the Creator recorded in Chapter 1:18, "It is not good...."! And the questions and even puzzlement began to surge through my mind.
Enough to say it has been weeks now of wonder-filled, thrilling meditation on the Creator Himself, His marvelous plan for us, for family, for the display of His glory through us...and on and on. The depths are no where in sight....
Thanks, Mike, for the encouragement.