A High View of Scripture

Consider This…

As we enter into the summer months in Michigan, we love to fill up our schedule with outdoor activities as we soak up the summer sun. If your days are like mine, I can come to the end of the day and realize that I did not take any time to spend with God in His Word. There can be a variety of reasons why we don’t spend time in God’s Word, but I think one of the reasons we don’t spend time in God’s Word is because we have a low view of Scripture. We don’t approach the Scriptures with awe and wonder. We don’t approach the Bible as something that is living and active.

I love when I find speakers, authors, books, and any resource that stirs up my affection for God’s Word and gives me a higher view of Scripture. One example comes from John Piper’s book A Peculiar Glory. In this book, commenting on the beauty and glory of Scripture, he wrote this: 

“I do not merely hold a view of Scripture. I am held. The glory of God shining through his Word has been an irresistible treasure. Nothing in this world comes close to the beauty and value of God and his ways and his grace…He has kept me—held me—by his glory by revealing his glory to my heart year after year so that other glories would not lure me away. This he has done through his word. For me, the glory of God and the word of God are inseparable. I have no sure sight of God’s glory except through his word. The word mediates the glory, and the glory confirms the word.” 

Consider this…consider it slowly. 

Read it again. No, I really mean it. 

Consider the reality in a person’s heart that would express a view of Scripture in this way. This is an expression of theology on fire in the heart of the follower of Christ. This is not a quick and cheap expression of the inerrancy of Scripture. 

This is an embodied theology. This is more than mental agreement that the Bible is true. More than saying that Scripture can be trusted. This goes beyond believing the right things about the nature and character of God’s Word. This is known and felt in such a deep way that it takes hold of your heart, soul, and mind and spreads into all areas of your life. This is an embodied theology. 

Let this expression of Scripture stir up your affection for God’s Word. Ask God to open your eyes to the goodness and the glory of God’s Word until you are “held” by Scripture. You may never be able to express yourself like John Piper, but you can experience what he has expressed. 

Don’t look to past defeat in reading God’s Word. Stop walking in shame. God is inviting you out of His love, mercy, and grace. 

Start right now. Start in the Psalms or the Gospel of John. Take it one day at a time. Each time you go to read the Bible, read slowly and meditatively. Ask God’s Spirit to lead you to a deep affection for Scripture. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to the beauty and power of God’s Word. 

Have a high view of Scripture and you will have a high priority to consume God’s Word. Have a high view of Scripture and you will have a high commitment to making time to read God’s Word. Praying for your heart to grow with affection for the glory and power of God’s Word in these coming weeks.