Lost on a Deserted Island -what's your answer?
If you were lost on a deserted island, which would you rather have, the Bible or the Holy Spirit?
Hey Friends,
It’s an interesting question. It was asked on a recent podcast I listened to 1.
If you were lost on a deserted island, which would you rather have, the Bible or the Holy Spirit?
This question caused me to pause momentarily. Of course the answer is, the Holy Spirit. But depending on your background, the Bible can be placed in a higher position than a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Is that true where you are?
I have over the years, found myself, regularly, sitting down to read or study the Bible and not even ask for the Spirit’s help or leading. I was ticking boxes and feeling like a good Christian for having my morning devotions. Most of the time I was gaining head knowledge but not experiencing a relationship.
First and foremost we are invited to have a relationship with God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Bible’s purpose is to point us into this sacred relationship but it never was to be the object of the relationship.
At the beginning of the book of John, there is a preamble stating that the word is not something written in ink on paper but he is flesh and blood.
Jesus is the Word.
Moses gave the law. But Jesus gives grace and truth. 2
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 3
Who Jesus was and is - so is God - so is the Holy Spirit.
That is who we are invited to relate with.
Isn’t that exciting!
Jesus, who loved and cared for people, even the ones his religious leaders said not to associate with.
Jesus didn’t say - I go to prepare a place for you and leave you with a book.
No! Jesus said, I am going but I will leave you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.
Our Comforter.
Our Advocate.
Our Paraclete, our helper
A person who relates and we relate back.
What if …we spend as much time communicating with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we do reading or studying the Bible?
What if…we take a walk with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit and ask for help in relating and experiencing his love.
Knowing God is Experiencing God. It’s the same thing.
A relationship is more than knowing about a person, it’s knowing (experiencing) the person.
This is the very definition of Eternal Life that Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples in John 17:3…
And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3 NASB
We can also add, now that Jesus has gone to be with the Father, to know the Holy Spirit as well.
Eternal Life isn’t what we experience when we die and ‘go to heaven’. No, Jesus said it’s right now - knowing the Godhead - personally and relationally.
The Bible can help in this relationship but it isn’t the relationship.
It’s mid year right now - six months of 2022 have nearly gone. Let’s move forward, focusing on living the eternal life now.
Enjoying Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.
Communing with the Spirit, who is our advocate, teacher and comforter.
Experiencing the Father, who loves us unconditionally and forever.
What place has the Bible held in your life? in your upbringing?
Episode 41 The Bible for Normal People Podcast - interview with William Paul Young. https://thebiblefornormalpeople.podbean.com/e/episode-41-william-paul-young-reimagining-the-god-of-the-bible/
John 1:14-18 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Colossians 1:15-17 ESV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Love this question and your comments.
Relationship is what it is about!
I read the bible in a year a few times and I didn't feel any closer to God. I was rushing some days to catch up....it was about completing the chapters for that day...not getting to know God more.
I love how the Holy Spirit points me to different Bible verses though...which had I not known them...how could he led me to them....interesting.....
thanks