‘Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.’ (v1) Deuteronomy 8
Scripture presents questions. Widely, and critically, analysed throughout history, today few place complete confidence in rationality’s ability to answer and resolve them all.
Scripture’s authority is queried. In an age when fewer people read, many Christians learn more on social media and – from pulpit explanations than from reading the Bible themselves.
Many Christians fail to recognise a scriptural reference unless it comes tagged with chapter and verse. Scripture as a framework for cultural understanding is fast disappearing.
There is a danger that we return to a situation Israel experienced in the time of the Judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes (eg Judg. 17:6). Israel lacked a king, but we have a King Jesus, who is the Word of God.
There is a valuable tradition formed over time as to how the Church understands Scripture. We may helpfully reflect on this and must take care before departing from the wisdom of those who have gone before us.
Indeed, the Bible will always draw us back to Jesus and His foundational command to love God and neighbour (Mark 12:30–31). So always handle Scripture with respect and take great care to heed its instructions, for it is the very lifeblood upon which faithful and practical Christian discipleship is established and built.
RELATED SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Josh. 5:2–9; Judg. 17:1–6; Luke 11:27–28; Rom. 2:5–11.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Look to Scripture for guidance in every aspect of your life and always test what others say against it.
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, teach me how to live in accordance with Your Word. Amen.’
Photo by Bernie Almanzar & Tim Marshall on Unsplash
