The Spirit Behind The Word

Whenever you read the Bible, you must not read it to finish in a hurry like you are reading a history book, you have to get the spirit behind what you are reading or else it will be just like another history book.  But if you read, stop and meditate about what you are reading, word for word, you will receive life. Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life..." (John 6:63) This means they are alive and relevant to this day of 2014, regardless of the Bible having been written over thousands of years ago, because the spirit does not die. "...For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6) So it is important to use your mind and think about what you are reading in the Bible and also about what you hear being preached in the church. It is not wise to read and apply or hear and do without using the mind God gave to you.

 

One obvious example to look into is “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:28-30) Now, my question is, will it stop you from lusting again if you remove your right eye? Or will you stop stealing again if you remove your right hand? When a person starts to ask these questions, he is not wrong because he is reasoning and using his mind. God says, “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18) But if one draws the line and decides that he will stop doing wrong, he might really stop. So this means for example, if your eyes cause you to watch pornography, get rid of the pornographic material and anything that gives you easy access to it. If your friends influence you to steal, put an end to your friendship and rather be alone.

 

Some people of different ethnicity, gender, and other different backgrounds may feel offended by the Bible and say many bad things about God or Christianity, because they are missing the Spirit behind the Word. But if they would read, reason, think and search deep to understand what they are reading in prayer, then they could find the Spirit and therefore life.

 

May the cartoon speak.

 

God bless you!