“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every
good work”. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
 

     Ten years ago, I was holding a Bible study with a group of middle school students at the Brice Christian Academy in Columbus, Ohio. I was not surprised when asked this question: “How do we really know that the Bible is true?” It’s actually a good question given the fact that the Bible was written over a period of 1600 years, by no less than thirty different authors.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”. (Micah 6:8, NRSV)

     Christians are notorious for their selective hearing. My wife is threatening to buy me hearing aids so that I have no more excuses for missing her pleas to take out the garbage. The same principle is true with respect to hearing God’s word through the Scriptures. Too often we cherry-pick the passages that fit our constructs and beliefs while giving less weight to the Scriptures that do not.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”. (Micah 6:8, NRSV)

“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”. (Psalm 13:1, NIV)

     James Moore once wrote about a beautiful spring day. A little girl went for a walk with her grandfather. As they sauntered along, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, they came upon a garden. The little girl ran ahead and found a gorgeous rosebush covered with roses. Some of the roses were still buds and some were in full bloom. The little girl plucked one of the rosebuds and examined it closely. Then, with her  fingers, she tried to open the rosebud and bring it to full bloom. But it didn’t work.

“So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. (Galatians 3:26-28,NIV)
 

I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin’ Pin.
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin.
I stretched back, and I hiccupped;
And looked back on my busy day.
Eleven hours in the tin pan
God, there’s got to be another way.