John 5:39–40
You diligently study the Scriptures
because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the
Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
Bible
study will not give you eternal life. You could memorize the entire Bible and
be able to discuss minute issues of biblical scholarship and yet fail to
experience the truths found in its pages. It is a subtle temptation to prefer
the book to the Author. A book will not confront you about your sin, the Author
will. Books can be ignored; it is much harder to avoid the Author when He is
seeking a relationship with you.
The
Pharisees in Jesus’ day thought God would be pleased with their knowledge of
His Word. They could quote long, complicated passages of Scripture. They loved
to recite and study God’s Law for hours on end. Yet Jesus condemned them
because, although they knew the Scriptures, they did not know God. They were
proud of their Bible knowledge, but they rejected the invitation to know God’s
Son.
Can you
imagine yourself knowing all that God has promised to do in your life but then
turning to something else instead? You may be tempted to turn to substitutes.
These substitutes aren’t necessarily bad things. They might include serving in
the church, doing good deeds, or reading Christian books. No amount of
Christian activity will ever replace your relationship with Jesus. The apostle
Paul considered every “good” thing he had ever done to be “rubbish” when
compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8). Never become
satisfied with religious activity rather than a personal, vibrant, and growing
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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