Jesus Knew the Scriptures - We Should Too!

     Yes, Jesus IS the very Word of God, so of course He would know the Scriptures but in wanting to be more like the Son in 2021, we too should know the Scriptures!

      Scriptures are good for us to know - they were written for our learning so we can develop patience, trust, and hope (Romans 15:4) and for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). Note: admonition means 'to put in mind,' it envelops the idea 'to warn' and 'counsel people to choose God.'  

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable 

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction

in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, 

thoroughly equipped for every good work."

(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)  

 

    In Ephesians 5, we are instructed to walk as children of light, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord (vv8,10) and to be wise, understanding what the will of the Lord is (vv15-17). At the time this epistle was written, the first century Christians in Ephesus (and everywhere else) would have needed to be like the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11); they would have only had access to the Scriptures (what we now call the "Old Testament") and the letters written to their church (or nearby churches), to find out what was acceptable to God and to understand His will, so learning and knowing the Scriptures was vital for understanding and assurance!

 

    Today, I believe it is no different! Although we have the complete message of God in Bible-form, and as followers of Christ we have the New Testament for our guide to live right before God, we do ourselves a disservice if we keep ourselves from reading and learning the Old Testament. 

 

       I'm reading through the Old Testament right now, and yes, Genesis and Exodus are exciting and filled with grand narrative and yes, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy can feel tedious and possibly repetitious, but just when I was "knee-deep" in Leviticus and trying to justify my own desire to skip it (and the next two books that follow), I realized something small but significant from my reading: God required absolute holiness in any person who came near His presence and in any thing presented to Him. God does not change - so His requirements then are His requirements now - when 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells Christians to "be holy in all your conduct" and "be holy, for I am holy," we need to take that seriously, just as the Israelites needed to. If I had not taken the time to read the small, sometimes uninteresting 'in-between' information, I would not have been able to make this needful connection point.

 

    So, don't be content with only the major accounts that most learn as children (Creation, the Flood, Crossing the Red Sea, etc.), read the in-betweens, the leading-up-to's and the afterwards! Learn more about yourself when you see your own choices/attitudes reflected in the choices/attitudes of those ordinary people (just like you!) who fill the pages of the Scriptures! Heed the warning that flashes out from the accounts of disobedience. Come to better understand the prophets and the serious messages they were burdened with and the hope they had that the people would turn from their evil ways back to their loving God! Learn of God and His holiness, His consistency, and His unending love for His children!

 

     Be more like the Son in 2021 by reading. learning, and knowing the Scriptures!

You can do it! So can I!!