The Miracle of the Bible

As I was reading Acts 20, I couldn’t help but stop and wonder about Luke, the author, and the Bible itself. I don’t want to forget the human element that is part of the divine inspiration which we believe is the result of this thing we call the Bible. Luke is the author who is inspired by God to narrate the story for future generations. This is incredibly remarkable when you stop and think about it. His careful selection of events that included himself, as in this chapter, and others that he knew about provide a timeless narrative that gives us direction today. I would suggest this concept should be known as The Miracle of the Bible.

It’s a book that is beyond fascinating. It captures the imagination of generations before and after Jesus’s appearance on earth. It’s not meant to be idolized, put on a shelf and worshiped, or cherry-picked apart to support our individual positions for or against anything. It is, rather, an invitation to hear the voice of God in narrative form.

One analogy I’ve used recently is to suggest reading the Bible is like getting a phone call from a dear friend, perhaps your best friend. I hope you have someone in your life that is so significant to you that you would answer the phone at all hours of the day or night, allow them to interrupt meetings, or drop everything to help you out anytime.

Reading the Bible is like one of those calls. When the phone rings, flashes, or vibrates, I’m eager to answer it. Depending on circumstances, I might answer with some anxiety if I sense something is wrong. If it rings at 2 am, I’m pretty sure something is amiss! There are many stories in the Bible that read like this. Stories of despair, anger, hostility, revolt, or just plain bad news. Other stories are exciting and encourage me to tell others.

This blog has been growing for some years now. What I’ve found is the more I read and write about what I’m learning, the more interesting the Bible becomes. Each time I learn something different. It might be a new angle or perhaps a gap was filled from some other source. Sometimes just doing life with another person exposes some Scripture that I seem to have missed in the past.

All I know is this: the more I read, the more I grow. The more I grow, the more I’m able to help others. Oddly enough, my definition of love has grown deeper. My patience for others is extended beyond my own understanding. My joy for hearing from God is difficult to explain. I’m not anywhere close to being done, but I have a peace in my heart that is there to share with others. I pray that I’m becoming kinder and gentler, but I have a lot of work to do in this regard.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

It’s not good enough for me to be encouraged or uplifted by God’s Word in the Bible. It’s only useful if it is shared with others. Dig deep, my friends. Find the treasure that’s buried within the inspired Word of God for all people and for all time. It’s amazing! It is The Miracle of the Bible.