The first way is to read it and apply it to the world at people "out there". It is easy enough of course; Sylvia Plath used a phrase in one of her short stories of using "Bible verses like bullets" and that is certainly something that, over the history of the Church, it has shown itself quite willing to do - let alone ourselves as individuals. There is always someone or something out there, violating God's Word.
The second way is to apply it to ourselves.
Applying Scripture to ourselves is not the fun way to do things of course: nothing less encouraging that to open up Scripture in the morning and immediately be confronted with yesterday's sins, or to realize mid-day that that grudge you have been carrying all morning was just as much of a sin as anything Christ called out in the Pharisees.
But here is the odd thing, at least for me: the more I concentrate on applying Scripture to myself, the less I become concerned with applying it to other people. Perhaps it simply reflects the fact that - for me - pride is me always looking out to others on how they have missed the mark and humility is me looking inward on where I have missed the mark.
I cannot control or "work on" others. But I can certainly do both of those things on myself.
Very, very true TB. A good example of pride versus humility in action. How often do we think, "So-an-so ought to hear that sermon" or read that book. But as Dan often says, "I've got enough to worry about with myself."
ReplyDeleteIndeed well stated TB, working on self is a life-long task....that self-control can be a big hill to climb at times.
ReplyDeleteMost Christians are scripturally Illiterate. They've "lived" on maybe a starvation diet of once-a-week Sunday verse of the week and commentary.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, the scripture like a double edged sword would cut deeper into their lives. Maybe Matthew 7 might come to mind:
…4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
And so many more that show the humble in Spirit are closer to Jesus's life and words.
Thank you TB for this clear and concise reminder of how we are to follow our Lord.
ReplyDeleteMichael is spot on. I picture the Word of God back-flushing our minds and souls. "Washing of the water of the Word" so to speak. Our hypocrite detectors and fairness differentiators are dialed in as kids. But being clean so we can be good surgical assistants is not so easy. Pouring the Word into our minds, meditating on it, and following the Spirit's direction as a result is the call to all. "It's me, it's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer."
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