Bible Study is not Enough!

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How Bible reading sometimes falls short

John 5.39-40 – “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 I do not accept glory from human beings.”

The religious authorities that Jesus addressed would put people like me to shame with their dedication to studying the Bible.

However, as I will probably say many times, Jesus was not arguing with them for the sake of argument. He was challenging them to open their minds about his life and mission on earth.

I study the Bible every day. I DON’T always come to Jesus. When I am living in self-will and self-seeking desires, I am full of my own thoughts and Jesus is left behind.

When I come to Jesus and use the Bible to know him better, he draws me away from my self-centeredness. I begin to look for what God is doing so I can join him in his activity.

Bible readers who don’t love God? What!

John 5.42-43 – “But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.”

The prophet, Jeremiah, understands the complicated nature of the human heart. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17.9).

To know information about Jesus is not the same as daily accepting him into our lives. It is easy to deceive ourselves by thinking that knowing about is the same as knowing in a personal way.

Let’s determine to accept Jesus as our companion and friend today and see what kind of a difference it makes.

Bible students who don’t have faith

John 5.44-46 – How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

If you look in the dictionary under “people pleaser,” you will find my picture. Every time I read this passage, I declare to God, “guilty as charged.”

God is challenging me in this passage by drawing my attention to the fact that if the opinion of people is greater than Jesus’ opinion, I will not be living in life-giving faith.

Let’s determine today to accept Jesus into our lives and to please him in every way.

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Today’s Prayer

Dear God, today I pray your abundant blessings for the readers of real-voices.com. Those who come to mind are: Toni, Bri, Denise, Rudy, Jason, Jeanie, Jake, and a few others. May we all welcome you to walk and talk with us today as friends.