I once heard it preached,
You’re saved! Stop trying to make sense of the Bible
And let the Bible make sense of you!
For the rational and logical intellectual this quote is a slap to the things they hold dear. For those who would not self-prescribe themselves into this category it seems like an impossible task.
To the word and letter, this may not be 100% the best way to approach every Bible study, but the point stands.
In our own humanity, what and how is the best way to approach the Holy Word? Is it merely a coagulated clot of Words or as alive as the most animate, organic matter?
Examine this verse and see how graciously the Bible operates on the depravity of humanity.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
What does this popular verse in Hebrews illustrate?
The Word of God is alive (quick), powerful, and knowledgeable of your spiritual anatomy.
Delving beyond knowledge of your condition, the author of Hebrews states the Word takes action and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart!
In other words,
It makes sense of you.
In reading, the Spirit works hand in hand with the Holy Word of God as He had when He delivered it to the original writer and is able to make sense of your spiritual condition, your shortcomings, your confusion, and your flippancy to God’s will.
Therefore, relinquish control. Put aside prior biases that interpret for you. Lay down your hesitancy to confront the “hard” verses. Open your Bible and converse with the Word, with an emphasis on listening.
The Word of God is alive, it’ll speak.