Monday, May 5, 2025

           The Bible is the premier resource as we wrestle with great questions that often elude a simple “yes” or “no” response.  We often turn to God when we have more questions than answers.  He is the right place to begin because He was in the beginning.  Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.”  Before God created the universe there was nothing...but God.  God has always been and will always be.  So, to answer some of the great and tough questions that life throws at us, it makes sense to start with the One who was in the beginning.
            Now to be fair, the Bible is not a simple answer book for every imaginable thing that we could ask.  For example, the Bible does not specifically teach us now to build a computer, why you might have flunked a test in the third grade or what type of grass seed might best produce a beautiful lawn at your home.  The Bible is not to be seen as a holy form of Google.  The Bible often does directly answer life’s questions.  We learn that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord.  We learn that God made the heavens and the earth.  We learn the meaning of faith and how to practice the Lord’s Supper.  But we do not learn why some prayers are answered exactly as we wish while other prayers are answered differently.  We do not learn why some people experience blessings that can only be described as miracles while others do not.
            But as we approach the Bible, the wisdom and counsel that we do find can often help us to reach answers, solutions and pathways to follow.  As we read the Bible, meditate on what we have read, pray and lean into the Holy Spirit, we often do find that God supplies the answers we are asking and seeking.  His will becomes clear.  Indeed, Jesus told us to knock, seek and ask.  Sometimes the answer might not be what we asked for or even wanted to see happen.  But in these times, we trust God to supply the grace necessary to accept and handle the answers we are given.
            Rather than treating the Bible as your own spiritual form of Google, spend time in God’s Word every day.  Read it thoughtfully and carefully.  Read it systematically—perhaps reading through each individual book one at a time.  Some people might be tempted just to open the Bible and read wherever and whatever they open.  While this approach is slightly better than ignoring the Bible, it is often too random to help us discover God’s ways and wisdom.  Begin with reading John’s gospel.  Move on to Proverbs and Psalms.  Next you could read through Paul’s letters.  Lean into God’s Word because only God was in the beginning.  Have a great Monday!