a word of words

This past weekend, myself and several of our band members had the privilege of leading worship for a group of students at their annual Bible Quizzing Invitational here in Bellefontaine. Teams of teens along with their coaches spend countless hours pouring over the words of the Word preparing for quizzing matches throughout the quizzing season leading to this weekend. And similar to the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament, these quizzers gather from all over, culminating in a weekend tournament that creates its own “March Madness” wherein the Scriptures take center court, and specifically for this year, it was the Gospel of Matthew.

From one who is only an observer –the occasional worship leader for such a group– I find their devotion to the study of the text something to be admired. How many of us ‘pro-Christians’ have the patience for such devotion in our own devotions to the minutia of the Scriptures? We would rather cut to the chase, get at the meaning and rush to the application rather than sit at the feet of the text and allow it to speak over us so powerfully and profoundly.

In simplicity, Christians are people of the Book. We’re not experts; we’re exegetes. We read the Bible and believe what it says. We pay attention to the words written because words have meanings, particular meanings. Those words create concepts and build ideas that lead to faith and a belief in the Word which is based upon special words, God’s words. This is why I strive for a literal approach to reading Scripture (can’t go wrong learning Greek and Hebrew!). Back up…..this is why Christians should read the Word and not merely read books about the Word. Reading as such lends itself to a more careful interpretation of text, paying closer attention to words written and their meanings, which become the building blocks to faith and practice.

These students succeed in quizzing by their attention to details in the Text, and they will find great success in their faith journey as they walk closely with the words in the Word. We would do well to model their method.

Dear Christian,
Are you still enamored with God’s Love Letter for you? Do you pour over it, immerse yourself in it and rave about its Writer? Do you devote time to reading His Words, hiding them in your heart and praying for understanding? Or have you become bored with the Book, having exhausted its mysteries and discovering its depths? Are you so awed by the wisdom found in the world that you have left the splinters of the cross? Each one is for you! Return to your first Love; return and believe anew. The Word will never leave you void; its words are trustworthy, faithful and true! Live your live by them as you live your life for Him!