Continuing in this series on 7 "legitimate" reasons why it is so hard to study the ancient Scriptures, here is reason #3 that I have been known to "voice" to the Lord....
"Well, I don't really know what to study, read, or...where to start when it comes to the reading and study of the Scriptures."
Ok, first let me define why I am even needing to look at, read, and study the Sacred Scripture.
I am a Christian, which means for me I have recognized I am lost in life without having a God to turn to for aid, for comfort, for guidance, for purpose, and for happiness...a joy from within that makes life itself worth all the effort.
At the same time I have seen others who find a certain cause in life to be fulfilling...like giving your life to help others;, I have seen those that raise a family and find their fulfillment in that, while others pursue a particular vocation and find their lives complete in that pursuit.....
At least that is what they say.....
So, I ask myself....why do we all need to give Christ Jesus the totality of our lives if God has already put desires that are fulfilling anyway?...or are they?
Jesus made an interesting statement in the Gospel of Luke, Luke 19:10 to be exact. He said this: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (NIV)
Here is my personal take on studying the Scriptures. I think you have to have a hunger...some type of desire or drive that causes you to want to know Him more...and what better place than to read a kind of biography of Him than through the Scriptures.
If you don't have a real hunger...then I think trying to study the Scriptures can be a waste of time... boring, it can be confusing, and there is alot "in there" that really doesn't make any sense.
Have you ever been engaged in a conversation with someone, and they keep looking around, giving you one word answers, and just not showing interest in a topic you are discussing with one them? That's kind of how I see some people who try and read or study Scripture without a hunger in their heart... they try and pick up on a quick verse...or flip though the pages...in a hurry...while watching TV at the same time...or waiting till the last minute to read a Scripture before they have to go somewhere....needing a quick "affirmation of the day" to send them on their way.
No, that won't get it done when it comes to reading the Scripture....I'm talking about people who need Jesus...real bad!...and will do whatever it takes to get more of Him...in their life. Yet, even with that type of hunger within, trying to find a way to enjoy and get closer to Him through the reading of His Word...still demands a little planning, it takes a commitment, and it takes an understanding of what you are wanting to obtain from the reading of the Scriptures.
First, allow me go back to the Gospel of Luke for a moment...Luke 19:1-10. This is an awesome Scripture with an awesome example of "needing Jesus...real bad!"
Now, in Luke we find a dude that is "ripe" for Jesus...and yes, he needs Him...real bad! Here then is a Gleaning from Luke 19:1-10...
"Jesus was coming into Jericho...actually He was passing through...He was on His way to Jerusalem.In Jericho lived this guy named Zacchaeus, who happened to be the chief tax collector for the Roman Empire in this mostly Jewish populated area, in fact, Zacchaeus himself was of Jewish origin. It was a great place to take up the vocation of "Tax Collector" because of a main trade route road not far from Jericho. It also provided the potential to make one wealthy by being a tax collector in this region.
{NOTE: Zacchaeus made his living by overcharging people in the form of tax revenues. Taxes were heavy and plentiful at this time and some people were forced to sell their own children as slaves to pay for taxes. Taxes included: heavy tax rates on all imports and exports, individual tax on merchandise items and tradesmen items, farming taxes...both land and crops, taxes on ownership of livestock, special taxes on goats and pigs, and taxes on animals brought to the Synagogue for sacrifice.}
As a result, the Jewish people despised tax collectors...and in particular tax collectors who were "one of their own."Besides, their tax money was for funding of the Roman Empire...not Israel...and that "didn't sit well" with the Jewish people.
Zacchaeus heard Jesus was heading his way, and he really wanted to see what Jesus looked like. Zacchaeus was a short guy, unable to see over large crowds, so he decided to run ahead of the crowds and climbed up into a sycamore fig tree...hoping to get a close view of Jesus when He passed by.
When Jesus came by the tree Zacchaeus was sitting in, something happened that caught Zacchaeus off guard. Jesus looked up and called Zacchaeus...by his very name! Jesus then spoke and said to him: "Come on down from this tree, today is My day to be a guest...in your home!"
When Zacchaeus heard the words Jesus had spoke to him, he quickly came down the tree and welcomed Jesus to his home...with much excitement and great joy! Zacchaeus, because of the profession he had chose, was poor when it came to having friends...he had established for himself a wealthy lifestyle...but the cost brought much loneliness with it.
Meanwhile, the crowds...after seeing the interaction between Jesus and Zacchaeus, became quite indignant over Jesus and His decision to go with Zacchaeus. They began to mutter, grumble, and were quite displeased over the whole situation that had developed. The crowds began to say among themselves: "Why in the world would Jesus make Himself comfortable at the home of this crook?" (and that is probably putting it "nicely".)
Zacchaeus meanwhile was "walking on air"...totally elated! Zacchaeus actually stood before Jesus and declared to Him: " I will give 1/2 my property...to the poor! And, I will pay back not 2 times as the Law requires...but 4 times the amount I have cheated so many people and all the damage I have caused.
Jesus responded to the generous words that flowed from the mouth of Zacchaeus, and said: " Today is a good day to be in your home Zacchaeus! A commitment like that speaks loud as to the kind of man you really are now...a true son of Abraham!
And now you and all others know why I have come...FIRST, TO FIND ALL THOSE WHO SEEK ME, AND TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THOSE WHO REALIZE THEY ARE LOST!"
I think in order to study Scripture with any type of passion...we need to have a heart like Zacchaeus....first...we need Him, and we need Him bad, and two...the Scriptures bring the very power to give us...Life!
More to come on this one.......oh, I almost forgot....So, when we proclaim Jesus to others through our actions and words in our daily lives, what if others are not looking for Him?...what if others do not think they are lost?........
"Well, I don't really know what to study, read, or...where to start when it comes to the reading and study of the Scriptures."
Ok, first let me define why I am even needing to look at, read, and study the Sacred Scripture.
I am a Christian, which means for me I have recognized I am lost in life without having a God to turn to for aid, for comfort, for guidance, for purpose, and for happiness...a joy from within that makes life itself worth all the effort.
At the same time I have seen others who find a certain cause in life to be fulfilling...like giving your life to help others;, I have seen those that raise a family and find their fulfillment in that, while others pursue a particular vocation and find their lives complete in that pursuit.....
At least that is what they say.....
Jesus made an interesting statement in the Gospel of Luke, Luke 19:10 to be exact. He said this: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (NIV)
Here is my personal take on studying the Scriptures. I think you have to have a hunger...some type of desire or drive that causes you to want to know Him more...and what better place than to read a kind of biography of Him than through the Scriptures.
If you don't have a real hunger...then I think trying to study the Scriptures can be a waste of time... boring, it can be confusing, and there is alot "in there" that really doesn't make any sense.
Have you ever been engaged in a conversation with someone, and they keep looking around, giving you one word answers, and just not showing interest in a topic you are discussing with one them? That's kind of how I see some people who try and read or study Scripture without a hunger in their heart... they try and pick up on a quick verse...or flip though the pages...in a hurry...while watching TV at the same time...or waiting till the last minute to read a Scripture before they have to go somewhere....needing a quick "affirmation of the day" to send them on their way.
No, that won't get it done when it comes to reading the Scripture....I'm talking about people who need Jesus...real bad!...and will do whatever it takes to get more of Him...in their life. Yet, even with that type of hunger within, trying to find a way to enjoy and get closer to Him through the reading of His Word...still demands a little planning, it takes a commitment, and it takes an understanding of what you are wanting to obtain from the reading of the Scriptures.
First, allow me go back to the Gospel of Luke for a moment...Luke 19:1-10. This is an awesome Scripture with an awesome example of "needing Jesus...real bad!"
Now, in Luke we find a dude that is "ripe" for Jesus...and yes, he needs Him...real bad! Here then is a Gleaning from Luke 19:1-10...
"Jesus was coming into Jericho...actually He was passing through...He was on His way to Jerusalem.In Jericho lived this guy named Zacchaeus, who happened to be the chief tax collector for the Roman Empire in this mostly Jewish populated area, in fact, Zacchaeus himself was of Jewish origin. It was a great place to take up the vocation of "Tax Collector" because of a main trade route road not far from Jericho. It also provided the potential to make one wealthy by being a tax collector in this region.
{NOTE: Zacchaeus made his living by overcharging people in the form of tax revenues. Taxes were heavy and plentiful at this time and some people were forced to sell their own children as slaves to pay for taxes. Taxes included: heavy tax rates on all imports and exports, individual tax on merchandise items and tradesmen items, farming taxes...both land and crops, taxes on ownership of livestock, special taxes on goats and pigs, and taxes on animals brought to the Synagogue for sacrifice.}
As a result, the Jewish people despised tax collectors...and in particular tax collectors who were "one of their own."Besides, their tax money was for funding of the Roman Empire...not Israel...and that "didn't sit well" with the Jewish people.
When Jesus came by the tree Zacchaeus was sitting in, something happened that caught Zacchaeus off guard. Jesus looked up and called Zacchaeus...by his very name! Jesus then spoke and said to him: "Come on down from this tree, today is My day to be a guest...in your home!"
When Zacchaeus heard the words Jesus had spoke to him, he quickly came down the tree and welcomed Jesus to his home...with much excitement and great joy! Zacchaeus, because of the profession he had chose, was poor when it came to having friends...he had established for himself a wealthy lifestyle...but the cost brought much loneliness with it.
Meanwhile, the crowds...after seeing the interaction between Jesus and Zacchaeus, became quite indignant over Jesus and His decision to go with Zacchaeus. They began to mutter, grumble, and were quite displeased over the whole situation that had developed. The crowds began to say among themselves: "Why in the world would Jesus make Himself comfortable at the home of this crook?" (and that is probably putting it "nicely".)
Zacchaeus meanwhile was "walking on air"...totally elated! Zacchaeus actually stood before Jesus and declared to Him: " I will give 1/2 my property...to the poor! And, I will pay back not 2 times as the Law requires...but 4 times the amount I have cheated so many people and all the damage I have caused.
Jesus responded to the generous words that flowed from the mouth of Zacchaeus, and said: " Today is a good day to be in your home Zacchaeus! A commitment like that speaks loud as to the kind of man you really are now...a true son of Abraham!
And now you and all others know why I have come...FIRST, TO FIND ALL THOSE WHO SEEK ME, AND TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THOSE WHO REALIZE THEY ARE LOST!"
I think in order to study Scripture with any type of passion...we need to have a heart like Zacchaeus....first...we need Him, and we need Him bad, and two...the Scriptures bring the very power to give us...Life!
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