SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:30-35
“Where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.” (Acts 15:35)
When we read this, we normally think about preaching and teaching the bible.
The bible as WE know it was not put together.
The “word of the Lord” was not the bible, but the message and testimony of Jesus.
Quotes from the Jewish bible would be given as support for this ‘word’ about Jesus.
But the focus was Jesus, Who He was, what He did, and what He taught.
Properly speaking, Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-2), the clearest revelation of God.
Other people were inspired to write down their understanding of that revelation.
By the Spirit of Jesus, God made sure His truth was revealed in what they taught and wrote.
The Spirit of Jesus continues to communicate the ‘word of the Lord’.
As we read the bible, we are listening for the ‘word of the Lord’.
Who Jesus is, what He did, and what He taught… and how that applies to our lives.
He is the One, by His Spirit, that will continue to encourage and strengthen us as believers.
I do not preach or teach the bible, I preach Jesus… through the testimony of the bible.
Don’t focus on the bible, or get lost in its intricacies and mysteries.
Focus on Jesus, He is the ‘word of the Lord’, He is the clearest revelation of God.
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for getting lost in bible study, and not coming to You. You are Saviour and Lord, You are the way, the truth, the life. May my bible reading lead my to You.