by J. Randal Matheny

The Bible has one message. That one message can be understood by any and all. People read into the Bible many of their own ideas, because they do not pay attention to its own meaning.

A basic rule of understanding the Bible is to let the Bible interpret itself. But many people are too lazy to READ the entire 66 books and connect the dots, so to speak.

One often abused verse, as an example, is Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (NIV).

The selfish person, the egotist, and the stubborn-hearted love this verse. Just think, if you find delight in God, he will give you whatever you want. If you think I'm exaggerating, just listen to some of the tele-evangelists.

Now, if people would read a few books further into the Holy Scripture, they would discover Isaiah 26:8: "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

When one delights in the Lord, ones desires are turned completely from self to glorify God. One's life purpose becomes to focus everyone's attention upon the goodness, mercy, justice, salvation, will, power, plan, word, and character of God. The name of God. His renown.

Isaiah illuminates for us, if we need a prod away from our selfish interpretation, the meaning of the verse in Psalm 37. This connection is not an isolated moment.

Scripture is a veritable web of strands that stretches across the entire range of the Old and New Testaments. Only by daily reading, by frequent consultation, by memorization, will we recognize and appreciate the intricacy of this marvelous inner referencing.

This feature of the Bible is not one that only an expert can appreciate and note. The various lines of discovery are accessible to every person, to lesser or greater degree, sufficiently so that anyone may discover for himself the single message of the Bible.

To a multitude of ex-slaves, Moses said,

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

So pick up your Bible, and start reading.

Our Father in Heaven, you have given us Christ as our go-between, to restore us to your fellowship. We are grateful for the new and living way he opened up to us. May we daily wing our flight to you through his mediation as we pray through his name and hear your voice by means of him as the Word.

We are also thankful that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. May we promote restoration of souls to your communion and peace among men and especially among brethren. Help us to see that the truth of the gospel is what brings us together; it is our uniter, not a divider, for those who desire your presence. We pray now through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

[Pertinent passages: 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15: 12:24]