This is an addendum or emphasis on the last post, “Why Engage with the Bible.”
There are a lot of discussions, programs, projects, messages, podcasts, blogs, facebook posts, tweets, and whatever else that suggest that it is important for you to be engaged with the Bible. My last post here included.
Engagement is more than knowledge about. It is good to know details about the Bible. Who wrote what, when it was written, purpose of the segment, and that sort of thing. It is also good to know the technical stuff, being able to work in Hebrew and or Greek. It is great to understand theology; all of those –logy words, hamartiology, soteriology, ecclesiology, etc.
But more important, no, most important, in Bible engagement is deepening one’s knowledge of. Knowledge of the person behind the text. God chose to reveal Himself in a book and in coming in person to deal with the problems that existed. That coming is also revealed, to us, in a book. That book was inspired by Him, 2 Peter 1:20 – 21 (here @ Bible Gateway).
Its purpose is to reveal Him. His nature, His character, His heart, His passion. It is for this reason that we should be engaged. The other knowledge about, is only valuable to the extent that it leads us to knowledge of Him. Otherwise it is just another empty arcane academic pursuit.
When brought face to face with God, Isaiah was undone. He essentially was a partaker of the Divine Nature in that encounter. Based on 2 Peter 1:3 – 4 (here @ Bible Gateway), when we engage with the Bible, we are, as Isaiah was, partaking of the Divine Nature. Thus, we, as he was, should be shaken to our core.
When you engage with the Word, ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you. Then fasten your seat-belt.
Engagement is more than knowledge about. It is good to know details about the Bible. Who wrote what, when it was written, purpose of the segment, and that sort of thing. It is also good to know the technical stuff, being able to work in Hebrew and or Greek. It is great to understand theology; all of those –logy words, hamartiology, soteriology, ecclesiology, etc.
But more important, no, most important, in Bible engagement is deepening one’s knowledge of. Knowledge of the person behind the text. God chose to reveal Himself in a book and in coming in person to deal with the problems that existed. That coming is also revealed, to us, in a book. That book was inspired by Him, 2 Peter 1:20 – 21 (here @ Bible Gateway).
Its purpose is to reveal Him. His nature, His character, His heart, His passion. It is for this reason that we should be engaged. The other knowledge about, is only valuable to the extent that it leads us to knowledge of Him. Otherwise it is just another empty arcane academic pursuit.
When brought face to face with God, Isaiah was undone. He essentially was a partaker of the Divine Nature in that encounter. Based on 2 Peter 1:3 – 4 (here @ Bible Gateway), when we engage with the Bible, we are, as Isaiah was, partaking of the Divine Nature. Thus, we, as he was, should be shaken to our core.
When you engage with the Word, ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you. Then fasten your seat-belt.
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