As A Community of Bible lovers, Christadelphians were once called ‘The People of the Book.’ Are we still deserving of the title? Could it be that with the demands upon our time in this modern-day society, Bible reading no longer takes precedence? Many follow the daily reading calendar designed by Bro. Roberts, deriving great spiritual benefit, while others have difficulty making the commitment.
Why read the Bible regularly? Obviously the answer is to get closer to God, seeking to know Him better through His word. Each day we open our mail and read our e-mails as a matter of course, so why do we sometimes hesitate to open the communication from God that is a matter of life and death?
The bread of life
Just as natural food is vital to sustain physical health, a daily intake of God’s word ensures the growth of spiritual well being. The Lord Jesus likened himself to life-giving bread: “I am the bread of life.. .the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.. .This is that bread which came down from heaven.. .he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (Jn. 6:48, 51, 58).
These profound statements caused great consternation even among his followers, some of whom left, never to return. If only they had put aside their own prejudiced interpretation and listened to his simple explanation: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6:63). The Son of God was the figurative bread from heaven because he spoke the words of God that were the source of spiritual strength and health.
The Gentiles brought in
Initially the Savior was sent only to the Jews, a fact confirmed by his conversation with the Canaanite woman: “She came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table” (Matt. 15:22-27). Remarkably, this Gentile recognized what the children of Israel had failed to see, that here was the anti typical manna. Nothing daunted, she humbly begged for just a few crumbs to fall her way.
In God’s mercy the Gentiles now have the opportunity to enter into covenant relationship with Him through the blood of His Son. The essential factor being knowledge of His will and purpose and a dedicated attempt at obedience: “And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (Jn. 17:3).
An unlimited supply of the bread of life is readily available to us but we must hungrily seek it in the word that has been miraculously preserved for our use. If we take the initiative, God immediately responds: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (Jas. 4:8).
Helpful strategies
David, the man after God’s own heart, rose early in the morning in his quest to find God: “0 God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee…” (Ps. 63:1). Following David’s example and getting up a little earlier is an excellent way of finding extra time in an action packed schedule. There is no better way of starting our day than by prayerfully opening the scriptures with the intention of seeking the Lord. Whatever time we do choose to read, however, it is essential that we focus the mind and really concentrate on the lessons, instruction and guidance to be found within the pages.
Do your own review
The following are a few strategies that may be helpful.
After finishing a chapter, try and recall the salient points; ask yourself questions and consistently “wonder why.” Another method is to identify with the writer, so that we can join David in saying, “0 God, thou art my God.” We can become Paul struggling to lead ecclesias with the handicap of his own human weakness, or take on the dual role of being both writer and the recipient ecclesia.
In the parable of the sower, it is possible to take on three roles: first the ground on which the seed was sown, secondly the fruit of that sowing, and then resolving to spread the word, we can become the sower.
Be imaginative
Imagination is a great tool, enabling us to picture the difficulties experienced by Jonah when entering the city of Nineveh to single-handedly preach to the reprobate inhabitants. Visualize Nehemiah and his mammoth task of organizing and encouraging families to persist with the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem in the face of local hostile opposition.
Empathize with the aggravations and stress experienced by Moses during the 40-years wilderness wanderings. Rejoice in the satisfaction he must have felt when the instructions for the tabernacle, its furnishings and the priestly garments had been carefully followed and presented to him for inspection. The words are brief but sublime: “And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them” (Ex. 39:43). No doubt there must have been tears of joy in the eyes of this faithful man, who was the forerunner of the greater mediator to come: “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken…” (Deut. 18:15).
Instructions for spiritual Israel
As spiritual Israel, we should remember that many of the God-given instructions to Israel after the flesh are equally applicable to us: “What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” (Deut. 10 :12-13).
Similar instructions are found in the prophet Micah: “He has shewed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).
Admonitions and warnings abound: one that is most salutary and in keeping with our topic is: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Is. 55:6-7). Whatever the circumstances, the Lord can always be found by those who humbly approach Him seeking for forgiveness. Sadly, not so with the wicked: He will never be found by them because they never seek Him: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Ps. 10:4).
Consider the Psalms
The Psalms are a tremendous source of encouragement to everyone. A wayward teenager can be redirected: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Ps.119:9). Sufferers find comfort and strength: “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me” (Ps. 119:50), and the mature in years who remain faithful are reassured: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken…” (Ps. 37:25).
God’s way
Perhaps the most convincing reason of all, regarding the necessity of regular exposure to God’s word is to be found in the profound message of Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord”(Is. 55:8). There is a great gulf between human nature and the divine and we need constant reminding of the fact.
Naaman had leprosy (a graphic symbol for sin), and sought a cure in Israel. He was certainly on the right track; the only cure for the corruption of the flesh is to be found by way of the God of Israel. His problem was that he wanted the cure on his own terms: “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage” (II Kings 5:12).
Seekers of the Lord will find Him, but the ultimate cure of human nature will only come on His terms.
Amplification of these thoughts were given by the one who we are about to remember in the bread and wine: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One