Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Know Scripture Yet?

You know what it is like when you are reading Scripture and something strikes you profoundly and you just cannot continue on without stopping and pondering on it for awhile? Well that is what happened with me as I read of the resurrection in John 20. This verse stopped me dead in my tracts: “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” (John 20:9 NKJV) I read this and thought “What? They did not know the Scripture yet? How many times did Jesus tell them that He would die and rise again from the dead?” Thomas, even after learning of the resurrection of Jesus form those who already saw Him still did not believe. He said “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25b NKJV)


The word “know” in John 20:9 is translated in some translations as “understand.” We are no different that the apostles or Mary Magdalene, we can know all about Scripture and still not know it. What I noticed, when they saw they believed and understood.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. (John 20:6-8 NKJV)

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20:18 NKJV)

27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28 NKJV)

The disciples spent all that time with the Lord seeing His miracles and hearing His teaching. He told them many times over that He would die and rise again, yet they did not understand. We can quote Scripture, hear teaching after teaching, spend hours in the Word and still not “know” Scripture. We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ and not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. James said “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 NKJV)

To illustrate my point, Scripture says:

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV)

Suppose we are always complaining about what we do not have, our only prayer is at supper time when we say some canned prayer plus we take everything have for granted. We may be able to quote this passage all day long, but do we really know (understand) it? As we step out in faith and apply the Word in our lives, we see His work and our lives changed. Then we start to know Scripture and our Lord, not just know about Scripture.

Photo Credit: Image Base

16 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, Ken! This reminds me of the parable of the seeds sown on hard ground, that spring up quickly, but then the cares and worries of life come and cause them to wither. I can be so sure of God's promise, and then circumstances cause me to doubt His care. I want to know Him more!

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  2. We can quote scriptures that we "know", but do we really understand them? I want to KNOW God and all His Word. Great post!

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  3. Head knowledge or heart knowledge.

    A child will have almost immediate heart knowledge for they practice what they hear because they trust the adults around them. Then when they reach a certain age...13 or so they start questioning and thinking more, which is good but then they stop acting with faith with stops the heart knowledge.

    Oh to be like a little child still questioning and testing against the Bible but acting on faith that what our Father says is true.

    Walk the talk!!

    Blessings Ken, great post!
    <><

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  4. Wonderfully written Ken! I want to KNOW Scripture not just know about it...but the Author of it!

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  5. Hi Ken...I'm doing okay, my days are peaceful and I am resting for now. Thank you so much for all your prayers.
    I love your post here and have been thinking a lot about this myself lately. Your post is very encouraging especially in the times we are in. We need to not just read and know God's word but embody His word, live it and shine the light that is God inside us to the rest of the world.

    God bless you...

    Lisa

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  6. @Karen- Good point about the parable about the seads.

    @Lisa- We keep pushnin toward that upward calling.

    @Child of God- Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

    @Allison- How wonderful it is growing in His knowledge and grace and getting to know Him more.

    @Lisa- I am pleased to hear from you and your days are peaceful. I am also glad my post was an encouraagement to you.

    I thank all of you for your comments and may God bless each of you,
    Ken

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  7. I really need to read the bible plus know about the Scriptures.

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  8. Great post Ken. To know and then to apply. Blessings.

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  9. It always amazes me when I hear people say, if I could just see a miracle, then I would believe.....Well, many people back then saw the miracles, including the disciples, but they struggled with their belief anyway! Great post! Lori

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  10. Amazing post, Ken. Absolutely striking. Especially the last part for me! I get caught up in my day, and though I utter small prayers to the Lord at odd moments, my longest prayer seems to be the dinnertime prayer!! :( Oh, I must seek a more prayerful and worshipful existence. Thanks for the post, and God bless!

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  11. So on point Ken! Really takes a hunger and thirst for God. Searching for truth like a desire for hid treasure with a open heart ready to recieve. Many times reading the word of God and yet God can come back and show something yet from another prospective and it lines up! Be Blesssed!

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  12. @Meg- I encourage you do dive right into Scripture and get to know Jesus and His Word.

    @Just Be Real- The applying get to be the hard part, but well worth it.

    @Lori- Yes it amazes me also.

    @Emily- I feel the same way, I want a more prayerful and worshipful life.

    John- Oh yes it does take a hunger and thirst for God.

    I thank each of you for stopping by and leaving your comments. They are much appreciated.
    Ken

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  13. The more you read the Bible, the more you understand what you are reading. God Bless You.

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  14. Ken, your posts show just how much you are willing to chew on the word of God that you read. Like a cow chewing grass until it becomes cud, and it has been said that the cow will chew this cud for several hours.

    Knowing with our head is not the same as believing with our heart. A mere mental assent hardens the heart.

    How I love coming here to read whatever it is that you have been chewing on, Ken.

    Thank you for taking time to share what is on your heart with us.

    Blessings,
    Lidj

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  15. @JT- Thank you and I agree. We must dive into His Word then do what it says.

    @Crown of Beauty- Thank you Lidj for your kind comments. I also love visiting your blog, it is always a blessing to me.

    May God bless you,
    Ken

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  16. Hi Ken -

    Thank you. I wholly agree, we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

    This message is helpful indeed.

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