Home>
Ministries>
The Pastor Nathaniel's Blog>
The Pastor's Blog Archives>
Pastor's Blog Archives. 2020>
Pastor's Blog August 20, 2020
"A Knowledge of God II"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
Do you ever get frustrated reading the Bible? Adventist Christians often come to me and say, "I know the Bible is the word of God and Jesus is my Savior, and that reading the Bible can help me know Jesus. But I read the Bible and I see no change in my life. How do I read the Bible as Jesus speaking directly to me so that I'll experience transformation of life?" That's a very important question. It's also a question about spiritual magic.
Often, Adventists approach the practice of Bible-reading as a shortcut to personal transformation; it is, in many ways, our version of the magic rabbit's foot in the results we expect. Ellen, however, reminds us of what the relationship is between the Bible and Jesus, and the purpose for reading the Bible.
In "Steps to Christ," Ellen clearly says, "God speaks to us in His word [the Bible]"; more emphatically, she later identifies the Bible as a divine revelation that witnesses to Jesus, tells us about him, and is a way for us to read about "His works" and listen to "His voice" (60).
But Ellen makes an interesting statement immediately after talking about God speaking to us: "Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption" (60). According to Ellen, the Bible is the account of how God has worked with people from the past. By reading it, our love and trust for God will grow - not because the Bible is a magical book that produces these traits in us, but because we will become increasingly persuaded that the God who showed himself trustworthy to Bible characters can also be trusted by us (60). Just as what we eat grows and nourishes our bodies, so what we meditate upon grows and nourishes our minds and characters (61).
Does that mean the Bible doesn't produce a life-change? No, it definitely does - WHEN you read it to get to know Jesus, rather than as a magical way to fix your problems (60-61). Only Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, and only Jesus saves; the Bible is the written word of God, and therefore is a book. But the Bible is the voice of Jesus to us, because it is his love letter to us.
How do you read the Bible for life transformation? You read the Bible to get to know Jesus - and then you'll find Jesus speaking his life-giving words to you, which are the Bible itself (60-61).
(*) Steps to Christ, Chapter 10— A Knowledge of God, 1977 edition
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
