The Matukituki River is breathtakingly beautiful as are the glaciers that feed into it from Mt Aspiring National Park. I visited there during a hike in NZ last month. God takes my breath away. Not only does He create spectacular beauty but He allows us to immerse ourselves in it and enjoy it. Literally. We plunged into the icy waters at this spot and it took our breath away.
I believe God also wants us to immerse ourselves in Scripture because there is such beauty there, which can take your breath away.
I won’t outline here the very good reasons for Christians to know their Bible. I’ll just sprinkle some thoughts around an experience this week.
To be ‘immersed’ means to be actively thinking about, reflecting on meaning and experiencing God’s written communication keenly through obedience. Sometimes we are in over our heads, but Living Water keeps us buoyant. There is more joy in Christ’s presence pouring off the pages into our heart, mind and feet than any invigorating plunge into a river. Let me illustrate.
Last Monday, I was chatting with two friends about Jesus and the Bible when a quiet voice from another table in the café commented. We invited the young man to join us. Remarkably, the Holy Spirit had already been at work in his life – he was from a Christian family but estranged from them and homeless. He listened intently as we outlined Gospel truths about God’s love in Christ. When asked if he believed, without hesitation he said yes but said it was too strange to pray out loud to declare his faith in Christ. However, not long after, he suddenly responded to the Holy Spirit, got up, kneeled on the cement right there saying he was ready to pray but didn’t know how. Of course, we helped him with words but then he continued with his own words and prayed out loud from his heart to receive Jesus as His personal Saviour. ‘I feel so clean’, he said afterwards.
The Lord had seen this broken man (his word not mine) who had hit rock bottom but found Jesus there to resuscitate him.
Mark preached about fishing for people and Bob about the joy of knowing Jesus – truths from Scripture and great rejoicing in heaven! (Luke 15:7)
Rose
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