The Word of God, the Bible, is complete. It doesn’t need any improvements. It doesn’t need any changes. In truth, the versions of the Bible have a purpose, but it doesn’t need them. The Word of God is the final answer.
The Bible has all we need. It has everything to guide us and direct us. It is all there.
Read: How to Pray: Building a relationship with God
Yet, throughout history, many, many great books have been written to help give us guidance. To give us wisdom. To show us a path we should take. Books that point us toward greatness and grounded sensibility.
What sets the Bible apart?
Is it the history behind it? Why are Jewish people so important? Why is the story of Jesus so much more than any other story of great sacrifice? Why are the Ten Commandments still such an important set of rules thousands of years later?
What is it?
Can we point to any one thing that is divine about this set of stories and poems and teachings that individualizes this block of pages more and far above any other book written?
I think we can.
I do not take lightly the fact that the world has great books that teach us stories and truths other than the Bible. Regardless of their origins or writers, there is one thing that is boldly emphasized by the Scriptures.
The Author.
I can write until my hands fall off about the Word of God. As I have mentioned above, the realities of the Bible are emphatically unmatched. Yet the one thing that truly sets this Book apart from others is the very One who wrote it.
The men who penned the words are not the authors. They each would be the first to say that.
But the uniqueness of this is not just the Author. It’s not just the facts and power that are behind this series of compendiums gathered to one volume. It has one particular property that divorces it from the remaining books on the shelf.
In truth, the Bible endures only as a rather conspicuous collection of thoughts, ballads, tales, and tutoring distinct from the Author. That is not to lessen the beauty and majesty of the writing at all. But without the One who wrote it, it is a great and amazing series of words and dribble.
This is why you cannot separate the Word of God from the Presence of God. Barring God’s personal connection to us takes the Bible and makes it just great teaching. It is not JUST great teaching. It is the VERY.ESSENCE.OF.GOD. His character and Who He is.
Yet we take it a step more, once again, to say that the Word of God is not static. We know it is, indeed, Living and Moving and Breathing. (Heb. 4:12) In the spiritual senses, most true, but also in a manifested physical way that would take books and books to explain.
Here is the crux of this: God never intended us to simply know the words on a piece of paper and rule our lives in such away. He did not write a book for which we were intended to have our lives guided by and then wander off to oblivion. It was always the intent that the Bible would lead us to Him. Why would He go to such an extent otherwise?
So where are we with this now? What does it mean to be led through Scripture to Him?
From the beginning, it has all been about relationships. The struggle that Adam had (before sin) was a need to have a relationship. And God has been about that very topic since.
So, by way of the New Covenant, we have the opportunity to know God through Jesus. To have that relationship with Him that we would, otherwise, never have.
We have relationships with many, many people. Some are close (such as with our spouse) and some are pretty distant (like “friends” on Facebook). They each have one thing in common: Communication. Granted, some to a lesser degree, but all have it.
Our relationship with God is no less the same. Scripture will do the job for much of this. In fact, if you are in a relationship with Him, you need to be reading His Word every day. It is, indeed, the number one way He communicates to us. If you are not hungry for the Word of God, you need to seek that anointing.
But does it end there? Is that all we have to converse with our Creator? True, it is very complete as I said above.
Think about this: if we communicate with our spouses or our children as we do with God, those relationships will die, and hatred will grow in their places. If the only time I ever heard my wife speak was when I read note here and there that she had written, do you think our love would grow or perish? Can you imagine a relationship like that? And yet, we are called the Bride of Christ. Should our communication remain just words in a book?
God’s character and existence do not change. He will never contradict His own Word. But will He speak to us? Are the Bible’s references to the Gifts that involve His speaking to us still here?
I leave you with questions on purpose. And it is a vital thing for us to seek answers. One of my favorite verses is found in Proverbs, chapter 25, verse 2 (NKJV):
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
In short, it is the questions that are posed to us that will drive us to greater knowledge and deeper relationships with Him.
So, The New Testament (Covenant) began with the life of Jesus. It ends with the occurrence of the vision of John (Revelation). All that Jesus did and spoke to humankind while on this earth took place in between. The Revelation of John has not happened. That means we are still in the New Testament. We are still in that time period. It has not passed on. The New Covenant is not history, and it is current. We are still a part of it.
So all that was set forth by Jesus, His Disciples, Paul, etc., we are a part of. It is all still happening. And God is still doing what God has been doing!
Listen…
Matt has been writing blogs since 2008. Newspaper articles prior to that. Most of it has been about the goodness of God. “Life’s greatest purpose is God and all that entails.” He has written and published seven books with a long list waiting in line. His prolific writing is attributed, by himself, to a gift from the Great Master Author. The books range from devotionals to Christian and family fiction. The genres’ variety has demanded that he use pen names. So he writes all his devotionals and blogs under “Matt Davenport”. Adult/Christian fiction is written under M.R.Davenport. And he writes Y.A. under E.M.Oliver. The Y.A. writing is currently under a goal of two separate series’ that will, eventually, converge into one another. These two series’ involve a total of 10 books (one written and published already) that are set to culminate by the end of 2025.
He is married to his best friend and editor, Nancy. Between the two of them, they have 7 children and 12 grandchildren. They are blessed to reside on a beautiful, old farm (built during the Civil War) which they share with a very large heard of goats and two chummy barn cats. Which is all located in Oregon.
“While my work will always have a great range of story and character, I will never be embarrassed by children (mine or someone else’s) reading it.”
Sapphire Arts is his and his wife’s company. It is still in the baby stages and will eventually combine a publishing and design LLC. Add to that the talent they both have for creation (woodcraft, seamstress craft, digital design, etc), and SA will have much to offer.
They have a daily (Monday through Saturday) online Bible Study at 9 a.m. Pacific time. It is open to anyone who wishes to join in and watch by requesting to be friends with Matt on Facebook.
Thanks for posting, an encouraging reminder of the importance of how God speaks. He has given us his Word. Thankful.
Peace to you
Yes that is so true Evad. When I need encouragement and to hear God’s voice, I turn to the Bible. We humans need to remind ourselves how blessed we are to be able to bear Him speak through scripture.
Amen dude!
Thank you, Evad. We are blessed to know the true, living God and hear his voice!