Scripture (fourth in a series)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Claudia Dickson Greggs

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)

In this continuing series on Scripture I’m writing about why the daily reading of Scripture, accompanied by study, selective memorization, contemplation, and use in prayer is essential in the life of every Christian.

This week I address the importance of reading Scripture. As I wrote in my first post in this series, daily engagement with the Bible trains our ears to recognize what God is saying and doing in our life. If we ascribe to God our own emotions and motivations we will tragically misunderstand him. It’s essential we come to understand God’s way of doing things because his point of view is so foreign to our own.

God loves us with a sacrificial and enduring love, which has no human counterpart. In fact, in Greek, the love attributed to God has its own special name. It is called αγαπη (pronounced ah-gah-pay). Continually reading through the Bible will help us better understand how Continue reading →

Posted in Scripture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Scripture (third in a series)

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Claudia Dickson Greggs

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Last week I wrote about Scripture having restorative power and medicinal-like qualities. This week I’m writing about why our heart, soul, mind and spirit need the tonic Scripture offers us.

Before the Israelites entered the promised land Moses instructed them to take God’s words, spoken through him, and recite them often, talk about them continually with their children, and write them on their door-posts and the on walls of their houses, so that they would always be visible (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). Moses understood the power words and images have in shaping and forming human character and actions. He knew the word of God would build and sustain a faithful life, provide a holy sense of identity, and give assurance of God’s love and protection in time of need – if ingested regularly. God’s words were given so that they would be absorbed into the hearts, minds, and souls of his people.

Today, there are a lot of words and images vying for our attention. They stick in our minds, sometimes serving no purpose – or even playing a detrimental role. The words to Continue reading →

Posted in Scripture | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Scripture (second in a series)

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Claudia Dickson Greggs

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

This verse, above, used to scare me. I didn’t like what it seemed to imply – that I would be judged, exposed, and found wanting by God’s word. I’m not sure why I thought it was possible to hide anything from God, but I wanted to keep up the charade that I was basically a good and decent person who occasionally missed the mark. The last thing I wanted was for the Holy Spirit to go rooting around in my soul. I shuddered at the thought of what the Spirit might dig up.

I’ve since changed my mind about this verse from the letter to the Hebrews and I’m done with the charade about only occasionally missing the mark. I freely admit now I’m a sinner – and that it was necessary for Christ to die for my sins. No amount of decency and goodness on my part can hide that fact. There are still habits of sin lodged deep in my heart and I am unable to dislodge them, no matter how hard I try. I want and need the Holy Spirit to root them out. I’ve surrendered to Jesus and I don’t want to do things my way anymore because I’ve discovered my way eventually leads nowhere. (More about the change in my life in my series, Losing Control, which will begin soon.)

This is why I find the verse, above, from the letter to the Hebrews thoroughly hopeful now. It speaks to me of what I long for – to become the new creation the Holy Spirit wants to make of me, using the word of God as an instrument of healing. I’m not afraid of what might be found. The truth won’t kill me; it’s the lies – and the fear that accompanies them – that will. I’m eager to Continue reading →

Posted in Scripture | Tagged , | 1 Comment