God Breathed

For the majority of my Christian education the Bible was elevated as the inerrant word of God. And while there were times I often wondered how humans could write something perfect, I quickly dismissed such heretical thinking with the fact that With God all things are possible.

Because it is said, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." (2 Tim 3:16)

I haven’t often thought about this passage within the context of the time it was written. No one had access to what we call the “New Testamant”. There were churches that received the letters that the majority of the New Testament consists of but they were not bound and distributed to every bedside table at the time. Even the Torah or Old Testament Scriptures were limited in “supply”. Unless you had a Jewish upbringing your knowledge of the law or “scripture” would have been hearsay.

When I was taught about quiet times it was necessary that the Bible was always involved. God speaks to us through His word. It is His love letter to His people… God breathed.

How did people have a relationship with God without the Bible I often wonder?

AND furthermore, how is it possible that those who wrote what comprises the New Testament, didn’t have the New Testament to refer to and spend their quiet times with?? 

Who were they spending their time with anyways? hmmmmmm.

And, if they were “inspired” by God to write what they did- why did the buck stop with them?

Has God ceased inspiring writers? Does He no longer use His people as a mouth piece to express what is stirring in His heart?

If I choose to spend time with God alone, with no “holy scriptures” will I be led astray? Or do I believe the Spirit resides within me?

I have often found the verses about the heart being deceptive (Jer. 17:9) and having the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) completely contradictory. I have lived far too long doubting and questioning my motives. I don’t trust myself. And to be honest, it is miserable living a life you are afraid to live. Afraid to make a mistake or say the “wrong” thing. Afraid to have an opinion or make a decision.  Wondering if I am aligning my everything to God’s will.

And yet, the Spirit resides within me.

You know what else is God breathed?

Man.

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Gen 2:7)

All of us. Walking around.

The breath of God.

Inspired by the triune God.

"Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves." (Gen 1:26)

It is true we lost our way. The Bible makes that VERY clear. But the entire point of it is to POINT us to our REDEMPTION. Our SAVIOR. The real, raw, intimate fact that God is passionately in Love with His creation – the ones He breathed LIFE into. This God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Tim. 6:17) He is the One who is after our hearts.

God is present in our every day lives. And I’m so very blinded by my expectations for how He is “supposed” to show up that I miss Him entirely. Even with my Bible wide open.

I admit, I do not have a specific time carved out to read my Bible. I may pick it up twice a week at random. But the older I get the more I realize God has not limited Himself in the pages of a book. He has made Himself known – his invisible attributes all throughout creation. (Romans 1:20)

Sometimes it is enough just to lift your head and look around. Survey the beauty around you. Marvel at the way the universe functions or even the physical body. Be astounded by the ocean or the grandeur of the mountains-taken back by the precious innocence of a newborn baby. Glory to God!

Moments like these can draw us closer to the heart of God. I will never say don’t read your Bible. Clearly it was written to help guide us. Test the spirits with what His word says. But do not think that without it, all is lost. That you are not close to God or know Him well enough. That if you just read more you’ll know Him more. You will possibly know more “about” Him… but there’s a difference in knowing about someone than an intimate “knowing” on a level beyond just knowledge. (Eph. 3:19) It is not any less quality of time spent with God in awe of His creation and praising Him for His goodness than in His word learning about His goodness. I would say both are necessary to fully experience God. 

I attended a mission program after graduating high school and we took a weekend to have a silent retreat. When our leaders explained to us that we would be spending time with God in nature they specifically said to bring nothing--As in not even our Bibles, because even the Bible could become a distraction. This was over 13 years ago… and even typing that still causes me to shudder.

How often have I used the Bible for my agenda? How many times have I opened my Bible because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the guilt of my conscience? Has the Bible become a distraction for me so much so that I miss God entirely when I read it’s content?

It doesn’t seem possible but as fallen creatures we can turn ANYTHING into an idol.

I wouldn’t have this knowledge without the Bible. Nor could I retain what I have without having spent time in it. And I respect the Bible. I am thankful for the Bible… but I don’t interpret ‘logos’ as the Bible. The “word” (logos) of God is His son Jesus Christ. And Jesus is the full representation of the Father- for if we have seen Jesus- we have seen God. (John 14:9) The purpose of the scriptures was to show us our need for Him. And His complete and utter willingness to give His life for our sake. We worship Jesus. Not the Bible.