August 21, 2007
What are you reading?
9:49 AM | Posted by
The Cornerstone Ranch Missions
One of my favorite things to do as I'm driving around town is to read the signs posted in front of churches. Many of them are very insightful and others leave me scratching my head saying uhhh, what? Today, I saw this sign on my way into town. It read like this:
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth
Clever acronym right? At first reading I thought so, but then something didn't feel right about what I read. I asked God to show me why this cute little sign made me fee uneasy. Then it struck me. Is the Bible a manual or is it something else, something much more?
Well, let's look at some reasons why we might see the Bible as a manual from God. First of all, I have no idea how to be righteous so I could really use some help. God knew I didn't have a clue so a manual filled with lots of really good ideas sounds like a great idea. After all, if I just knew what He wanted I could do it, right? After all, I can follow instructions pretty well, so a manual is just the ticket.
As a father, I have made some manuals of my own. Some rules for my children to follow to help them live better, happier lives. These were great instructions too, all very good things with very precise detail. These rules would certainly help them do better if they could follow them. Unfortunately, my "Manual" didn't have the effect I was hoping for. They didn't follow the rules. In fact, they didn't even read them so how could they follow them? Nothing changed. Things didn't improve. I got frustrated. They got angry.
We regrouped and decided that problem must have been that they didn't remember the rules so they couldn't follow them. So we worked on memorizing them. Soon, they could recite them on command. Unfortunately, memorizing the rules did nothing to change their behavior. They now knew what to do, but they still didn't do it! They still didn't follow the rules! What went wrong? My "Manual" was perfect! They knew what the rules were, all they had to do was follow them!
Why did my perfect plan fail so miserably? Perhaps my plan was not as perfect as it seemed. Maybe my family will never be changed by my implementing more rules and more strict enforcement.
Maybe there is another way? There is.
1Peter 4:8 tells us that Love covers a multitude of sin. 1John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." Love in the person of Jesus Christ. God's plan was never to control us through law, but to set us free through His infinite grace! Not us doing for God, but by God doing for us. The truth is that my children don't need a manual they can never follow. Neither do we. They need the grace of a loving father–Their Heavenly Father.
Jesus said He is the Vine, and we are the branches, apart from Him we can do nothing, but in Him we can do all things! So what do branches do to bear fruit (Grapes)? Simple, they just abide (stay connected to) the vine. That's it. They "hang out" in the Son and the vine does everything else they need to mature.
You see, that is why God wrote the Bible for us. To show us that in spite of who we are apart from Him, if we abide in Him, His love and Grace is more than sufficient to do everything. This is an example that shows us that the Bible is not about a list of things we should be doing, it is a list of what God is doing in us.
When we quit looking at the Bible as a "Manual" God uses to tell us what to do and start looking at it as a love letter we see that it expresses His perfect love and passion for us. It shows us the depth of the Fathers love and all He has done to bring us into a personal and intimate relationship with Him. So how should we look at the Bible? Which perspective better reflects the character of God? Loving Father or Rule Maker & Enforcer?
If you have a hard time letting go of the "Manual" image of the Bible, I would like to encourage you to ask God to show you who He really is. When He fully reveals Himself to you, I am sure you will see something else in the BIBLE.
Blessed
In
Both
Love &
Encouragement
Unbridled in Grace,
Mark
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth
Clever acronym right? At first reading I thought so, but then something didn't feel right about what I read. I asked God to show me why this cute little sign made me fee uneasy. Then it struck me. Is the Bible a manual or is it something else, something much more?
Well, let's look at some reasons why we might see the Bible as a manual from God. First of all, I have no idea how to be righteous so I could really use some help. God knew I didn't have a clue so a manual filled with lots of really good ideas sounds like a great idea. After all, if I just knew what He wanted I could do it, right? After all, I can follow instructions pretty well, so a manual is just the ticket.
As a father, I have made some manuals of my own. Some rules for my children to follow to help them live better, happier lives. These were great instructions too, all very good things with very precise detail. These rules would certainly help them do better if they could follow them. Unfortunately, my "Manual" didn't have the effect I was hoping for. They didn't follow the rules. In fact, they didn't even read them so how could they follow them? Nothing changed. Things didn't improve. I got frustrated. They got angry.
We regrouped and decided that problem must have been that they didn't remember the rules so they couldn't follow them. So we worked on memorizing them. Soon, they could recite them on command. Unfortunately, memorizing the rules did nothing to change their behavior. They now knew what to do, but they still didn't do it! They still didn't follow the rules! What went wrong? My "Manual" was perfect! They knew what the rules were, all they had to do was follow them!
Why did my perfect plan fail so miserably? Perhaps my plan was not as perfect as it seemed. Maybe my family will never be changed by my implementing more rules and more strict enforcement.
Maybe there is another way? There is.
1Peter 4:8 tells us that Love covers a multitude of sin. 1John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." Love in the person of Jesus Christ. God's plan was never to control us through law, but to set us free through His infinite grace! Not us doing for God, but by God doing for us. The truth is that my children don't need a manual they can never follow. Neither do we. They need the grace of a loving father–Their Heavenly Father.
Jesus said He is the Vine, and we are the branches, apart from Him we can do nothing, but in Him we can do all things! So what do branches do to bear fruit (Grapes)? Simple, they just abide (stay connected to) the vine. That's it. They "hang out" in the Son and the vine does everything else they need to mature.
You see, that is why God wrote the Bible for us. To show us that in spite of who we are apart from Him, if we abide in Him, His love and Grace is more than sufficient to do everything. This is an example that shows us that the Bible is not about a list of things we should be doing, it is a list of what God is doing in us.
When we quit looking at the Bible as a "Manual" God uses to tell us what to do and start looking at it as a love letter we see that it expresses His perfect love and passion for us. It shows us the depth of the Fathers love and all He has done to bring us into a personal and intimate relationship with Him. So how should we look at the Bible? Which perspective better reflects the character of God? Loving Father or Rule Maker & Enforcer?
If you have a hard time letting go of the "Manual" image of the Bible, I would like to encourage you to ask God to show you who He really is. When He fully reveals Himself to you, I am sure you will see something else in the BIBLE.
Blessed
In
Both
Love &
Encouragement
Unbridled in Grace,
Mark
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