Giving Heed to God's Word

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb. 4:12).

This morning, we will take a look at a few passages and try to view them in their proper context. Whenever we study the Bible, we are looking for answers. The challenge we will always face is ensuring we are looking for the answers provided as opposed to the answers we want. Many people over many years have found ways to make the Bible say what they need it to say, or what they want it to say, so that it will support their view or help them win their argument. This has been happening from the very beginning of the church. So soon in fact, Peter had to address it concerning the NT texts that Paul had written through inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16)

The warning stands for us also. If we ask, seek, and knock then we will find. But if we are trying to twist the words of God to fit our perspective or our preconceived ideas, we are doomed to fail. Instead, the right perspective is to approach the Word with a humble heart, an open mind, and as a faithful witness to the revelation before us. Scripture will challenge us. It's our job to wrestle with it and allow it to shape us, rather than casting for ourselves a god made in our likeness.