Bobservations Column
by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Believers often hear that a non-believer has read the Bible, but never got anything out of it. Even as the written Epistles show, the writer introduces himself, and follows up with the purpose of the writing. Every reader of every generation can then easily follow the “who, what, why, and when” of each epistle. Personal introductions seem vital to developing any relationship. This is a no-brainer.. Without an introduction, relationships won’t develop.
by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Believers often hear that a non-believer has read the Bible, but never got anything out of it. Even as the written Epistles show, the writer introduces himself, and follows up with the purpose of the writing. Every reader of every generation can then easily follow the “who, what, why, and when” of each epistle. Personal introductions seem vital to developing any relationship. This is a no-brainer.. Without an introduction, relationships won’t develop.
In the Old Testament, many of
the Prophets follow the exact format as the writers of the Epistles. It is a
timeless formula applied across the ages. The Bible proves to be an apparent
resource for all things in life here on Earth, for faith in God, and for hope
in a future with the Lord in heaven.
Jesus tells us in John 6:63
that it is the spirit that quickens; and the flesh profits nothing. He says the
words that He speaks unto us are spirit, they are life! As we look at our
teaching for today in Psalm 40, we find David writing under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, “Lo, I come: in the volume of the book, it is written of
me.” Because we know that David is here to write the Psalm, then the
phrase “I come” must refer to another, not to David. David’s Psalm is an open
letter to God, and the Lord interjects through the spirit that the Main
Character of the book is Himself, not David.
Further, it is also a
prophetic word through David, that the Lord is coming. So, His words are
spirit; His words are life; the spirit quickens (to life), and Jesus says He is
coming so that we might have life more abundantly (John 10:10). The Lord is coming, He has told us. And within the
telling, His Word reveals more of Himself to an unbelieving world.
“It is the spirit that quickens; the
flesh profits nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, they are life.” - John 6:63
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, they are life.” - John 6:63
Read His Word with
the anticipation of finding Jesus. Don’t just look
for evidence of Him, look for Him as He reveals Himself to you.
for evidence of Him, look for Him as He reveals Himself to you.