I am doing something different again this week! I found this devotional by Charles Spurgeon, who was a British preacher in the late 1800s, on my PC Study Bible and I think it is excellent!
"Search
the Scriptures."
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. KJV
The Greek
word here rendered search
signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they
are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We must not
rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but
with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning
of the word.
Holy Scripture requires
searching—much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is
milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a
mountain of matter hangs upon every word, yea, upon every title of Scripture.
Tertullian exclaims, "I adore the fulness of the Scriptures." No man
who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until
we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the word only opens to the key of
diligence.
The Scriptures claim
searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp
and imprimatur— who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despises them
despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our
Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account.
The
word of God will
repay searching. God does not bid us sift a mountain of chaff with
here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible is winnowed corn—we have
but to open the granary door and find it. Scripture grows upon the student. It
is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching
eye it glows with splendour of revelation, like a vast temple paved with
wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No
merchandise like the merchandise of Scripture truth.
Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus:
"They are they which testify of Me." No more powerful motive can be
urged upon Bible readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all
things. Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Saviour.
This is exactly what you have been doing! From the time that you met with your then future father-in-law, asking questions until you were satisfied of the Truth, to now, you have been a constant student of the Word! I know that over the years you have come to realize that there is so much more to glean from the Word of God than just words on a page! I really like the Amplified Bible for John 5:39 (above):
John 5:39 You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! AMP
This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP
Your quiet strength, Wisdom, compassion, selflessness, love for your family, diligence in your career and interests have grown even stronger and more evident as you have searched the Word and put it into practice! Your life is a testimony of the Word of God in action! We are so blessed to have you, Kristine and your beautiful daughters in our lives, and to see God's favor so strong upon you all! Here is another new song from Hillsong UNITED's "People" album called "Starts and Ends". I wasn't sure how I felt about this song until I listened a few times. My favorite verse is:
You’re my can’t explain
First and last refrain
You’re my every good thing
We will never know, or be able to explain, all that He is, but the seeking and finding is such a wonder!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
