As a biblical counselor, I meet many people who are struggling and need help and guidance. One of the things I have noticed in many instances is these people are not ignorant of Scripture. There have been many who can tell me facts about the Bible and can recount stories that they know. However, two common errors come up: they either view their time in Scripture as an intellectual exercise, gathering more information to store or they merely view it as instruction, a rulebook to live a righteous life. Where they go wrong is the miss out that the Bible is first God’s revelation of Himself to man. Yes, we learn more about life from Scripture and it does guide us how to live a righteous life. But it first tells us we are called to be in relationship with God. In Psalm 119, we are introduced to God as a righteous God. He is right in the rules He has made and faithful in the works He has done. This is crucial because when we understand this about God, we see where we go wrong. We have turned from this righteous God, forgetting His words and rebelling against the Creator of life. As a result, we face eternal death, separated from a relationship with Him (Romans 6:23a). Thankfully, that is not the end of the story. This righteous God wants to have a right relationship with His people. That is why He made a promise to send His Son to save people from their sins and bring them into a reconciled relationship with Him. This promise is sure because God’s Word is eternal and His righteousness is forever. For those who repent of their sin and place their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will find salvation. It is this salvation and relationship with God they rest in when the times of suffering come. There is a fellowship in suffering that brings delight in a deeper fellowship with Christ and an understanding that only comes from God’s Word. But it does not merely come from intellectual facts or following instructions. It comes from first being in a right relationship with our righteous God.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you tend to view the Bible as you read and study it?
2. How does understanding Scripture as first God’s revelation of Himself to us change how we approach our time in the Word?