THE BIBLE: Instruction manual or biography, practical or personal, advice or love letter? Actually, it's all these things. The important question is what is primary and what is secondary?
Jesus said, "And this is eternal life, that they KNOW you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3) Apostle Paul said, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of KNOWING Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8) Moses asked, "Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may KNOW you in order to find favor in your sight." (Exodus 33:13) and “Please show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)
When we read the Scriptures the practical stuff is always the easiest to dig for. The same is true when it comes to preaching. Giving moral and practical advice from the Scriptures is the easiest part of any sermon. And unfortunately, that's where most of us stay. Why, because it's easy. Reading the Scriptures that we might KNOW the God we serve and the Savior we love requires a great deal more effort.
The triune God is an infinite being and knowing Him fully is impossible this side of Heaven. Because of this many of us don't even attempt it. We content ourselves to remain on the surface digging only a few inches because the bedrock below seems impenetrable. But it's not. Moses knew this and that's why he asked God to SHOW him His glory.
Going deeper in our knowledge of God requires God. We can't know Him without His help. So Scripture reading must be combined with prayerful meditation. We must patiently ask Him to reveal Himself to us and then we must wait in anticipation for the answer. This excludes reading through the Bible like it's a race. There is no finish line when it comes to the Scriptures. We will never reach the end of learning about God.
Reading through the Bible in a year doesn't mean you're done. The Bible is not a journey; it's a mine and it's full of gold and precious stones. It's something we dig deep into, not run speedily through. The practical is important and there's tons of it in the Scriptures, and it's easily acquired, but the personal, the relational, and the deeper knowledge of our God is the real prize to be found in the Bible. So, take it slow. Ask. Wait. Ponder. Reflect. Yearn to KNOW Him and He will show you His glory.
