The Holy Scriptures are not first a set of rules to apply, but examples of how many humans learned to interact with God, to stay in communion with Him, to avoid losing this life-giving relationship.
Scriptures speak about Jesus, the Word of God, and how to welcome not only written words from God but also and foremost Jesus, the Living Word of God in our lives. Holy Scriptures are like a cradle that carried Jesus. It is of course more than that, yet this image help us remember that the goal is not to know many verses, but to know Christ, and to develop our fellowship with him in all we say and all we do.
At the same time, it would be dangerous to pretend - because we have a personal relationship with Jesus - that we don't need anymore the Holy Scriptures. In fact, we should not separate to strongly the written text from the Living savior, but do everything with Jesus, discussing with him as we read Scriptures, letting his Holy Spirit teach us when we read Scriptures. We have to avoid the temptation to read alone, and to learn to read with Jesus, to invite the Holy Spirit to speak in us as we read these life-transforming stories.
The picture of an open book reminds us of the invitation to not only possess a Holy Bible, but to open it and read these life-giving stories of God's love and grace. To discover how to avoid the failure of sin and how to welcome God's saving grace in our lives, through Jesus' sacrifice for us and through the Holy Spirit.
Scriptures speak about Jesus, the Word of God, and how to welcome not only written words from God but also and foremost Jesus, the Living Word of God in our lives. Holy Scriptures are like a cradle that carried Jesus. It is of course more than that, yet this image help us remember that the goal is not to know many verses, but to know Christ, and to develop our fellowship with him in all we say and all we do.
At the same time, it would be dangerous to pretend - because we have a personal relationship with Jesus - that we don't need anymore the Holy Scriptures. In fact, we should not separate to strongly the written text from the Living savior, but do everything with Jesus, discussing with him as we read Scriptures, letting his Holy Spirit teach us when we read Scriptures. We have to avoid the temptation to read alone, and to learn to read with Jesus, to invite the Holy Spirit to speak in us as we read these life-transforming stories.
Reading the Holy Scriptures, as we ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us, is one of the most blessed practices in this world, helping us to learn from God and with God, through these teachings of life. Ultimately, all will disappear, knowledge, prophecies, belongings. What will remain is faith, hope and love, and as Paul rightly said the most important is love (See 1 Corinthians 13). Therefore, let us take every opportunity to learn more about God's love and how to respond fully to this love. Discovering the wonders of the creation is a blessed pathway in this endeavor. Discovering the wonders of God's love in the Holy Scripture is somehow a parallel pathway, as the Psalm 19 highlight.
As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
For us to be trained in the art of walking with God in this world, the art of growing in this eternal fellowship, God uses powerfully these ancient texts of Scripture to teach us. As we learn from these past dialogs and interactions between humans and God, we are invited to interact with the Creator of the universe, to listen to Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. As God speaks love and life in us through these biblical texts, we can learn to recognize Jesus' voice in our daily life, the shepherd's voice, and to follow Him.
The ultimate test, in our reading of Scriptures, is whether we try to bend Scriptures to fit some selfish motive, even pious-looking ones, or if we will let the Holy Spirit use the Holy Scriptures to bend us and shape us to be always more Christlike disciples, lovers of His presence and servants of His grace in this world. We cannot master Holy Scriptures, but we can let God use the Holy Scriptures to shape us in the love of Christ.
As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
For us to be trained in the art of walking with God in this world, the art of growing in this eternal fellowship, God uses powerfully these ancient texts of Scripture to teach us. As we learn from these past dialogs and interactions between humans and God, we are invited to interact with the Creator of the universe, to listen to Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. As God speaks love and life in us through these biblical texts, we can learn to recognize Jesus' voice in our daily life, the shepherd's voice, and to follow Him.
The ultimate test, in our reading of Scriptures, is whether we try to bend Scriptures to fit some selfish motive, even pious-looking ones, or if we will let the Holy Spirit use the Holy Scriptures to bend us and shape us to be always more Christlike disciples, lovers of His presence and servants of His grace in this world. We cannot master Holy Scriptures, but we can let God use the Holy Scriptures to shape us in the love of Christ.
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