Applying Scripture

It’s important to know Scripture. It’s equally important to understand and correctly apply it. Even Satan knows God’s Word. But he applies it wrongly, and he would be glad to entice God’s people to use it wrongly as well.

Jesus is our pattern, and He shows the importance of using Scripture correctly. When He was in the Wilderness—after fasting many days—Satan came to temp Him. Three tests are recorded in Luke 4. In the final test, Satan quoted Scripture when he said, If you are the Son of God . . . throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: “'He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You. . . .” (Lk. 4:9,8 NKJV) Satan quoted from Psalm 91. He might have understood the meaning, but he misapplied it.

Jesus recognized the verses and understood them. He also He recognized Satan's deceipt and rejected Satan's argument. In response, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:16: it has been said, “'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (v. 12)

Originally published March 11, 1988

Picture: Potted plants, Patty's garden, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

You Think You Have?

People can spend a lifetime studying Scripture without coming to God. The Pharisees did. Jesus said to them, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." (Jn. 5:39,40 NKJV)

Jesus, our example, studied the Scriptures, too. He received spiritual truth; He let His Father speak to Him and fill Him with life.

If the Pharisees had listened to God speak through the Scriptures, they would have heard the Father, recognized Jesus and listened to Him as well. They would have come to Jesus with humble hearts.

They didn’t want to come to Jesus and they continued to study with hard hearts. Jesus said, "You do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.” (v. 38)

Originally published January 19, 1990.
Picture: Red River of the North, 2009. Photo by Cindy.

Acting upon God's Word

In this country, most people have ample opportunity to hear God’s Word. That was also true during Jesus’ life and ministry in Israel. People could regularly attend a synagogue—and if a special preacher was in the area, they could go to special meetings. During the early days of His ministry, Jesus often preached in the synagogues in or near Galilee. He also preached along the shores of the Lake of Galilee and then, multitudes pressed about Him to hear the word of God. (5:1a)

But it isn’t enough to simply hear the Word of God. We must also respond to it. After finishing a message one day while preaching near the lake, He turned to Simon Peter who stood nearby and said, “Launch out into the deep [waters] and let down your nets for a catch.” (5:4b)

This didn’t make a lot of sense to Peter. The command contradicted both reason and conventional wisdom, but Peter responded anyway. He dropped the net; He didn’t lose the opportunity to act upon God’s Word.

And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. (5:6)

Originally published May 3, 1991.

God the Word

God has always manifested Himself through the Word. At the beginning of time He said, Let there be . . . and a world was created. Throughout the Old Testament He spoke through the patriarchs and the prophets. He said through the prophet Isaiah, I have not spoken in secret . . . I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, “Seek me in vain.” (Is. 45:19 NIV)

When Jesus entered history as the Word Incarnate, John wrote, The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory. . . . (Jn. 1:14 NIV)

God continues to manifest Himself today through His Word. Because Scripture tells us that He does not speak in secret, it is our mandate to seek Him, to listen for His voice. If we do not wish to hear Him, He will not force Himself, but when we follow His admonition, we discover that He is alive and true.

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we moight be a kind of first fruits of all he created. (Jas. 1:18 NIV)

Originally published January 28, 1983.