The Fullness of Scripture

The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it and moves out across the skies as radiant as a bridegroom going to his wedding, or as joyous as an athlete looking forward to a race! The sun crosses the heavens from end to end, and nothing can hide from its heat.

God's laws are perfect. They protect us, make us wise, and give us joy and light. God's laws are pure, eternal, just. They are more desirable than gold. They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. For they warn us away from harm and give success to those who obey them.

Psalm 19:1-11 (TLB)

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Sam Whatley is from Alabama. When his daughter, Summer, was four, Sam took her to a fine arts museum. They came to a multimedia landscape depicting a meadow of wildflowers on a windy day. Puffs of gray fabric in the sky made the ominous clouds stand out from the canvas. A host of brightly-painted blooms seemed to swirl and sway in the green grass. Summer stood transfixed by the painting for a long time.

Wanting to encourage Summer in the arts, Sam asked her if she could draw the picture when they got home. She said, "No, but I can dance to it." To Sam's surprise, she then whirled about with pirouettes and moves she had learned in ballet class. His daughter had captured not the form of the painting but the essence of its spirit, the movement of wind on the meadow.

This made Sam wonder how often he misses the core of what the Bible is saying because he is too intent on the words. It is easy to get distracted by words like the teacher of the law who asked, "Who is my neighbor?" (see Luke 10:29). But God understands this, and as we seek the Lord, God continues to open our hearts to the fullness of scripture.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give us eyes to see not only the words but also your Spirit when we read the Bible. Help us to open our hearts and minds to receive the essence of your Word, in Jesus' name. Amen.