Plunge our eyes into the World

Wednesday 4 August 2021

Plunge our eyes into the Word

Searching the Scriptures

But the one who will have plunged his eyes into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and who has persevered, the one who has not forgotten what he has heard but who sets to work, that one will be happy in his activity. James 1.25

The verbal expression "plunge his looks" means to consider carefully, to examine carefully. So it is carefully searching the Scriptures. It cannot be a question of a superficial reading, but of a serious and thorough search for the meaning of the text, according to the analogy of the general context of the Bible. It should be assumed that the Bible is explained by the Bible.

Extracting a verse from the Bible, taking it out of context, is the opposite of what the apostle James recommends.

Before employing this expression "plunge his looks", Jacques uses an image to speak of the Word, that of the mirror. Plunging our gaze into the Word is not only to acquire an intellectual knowledge of the text, it is to allow this text to probe us ourselves. The Word allows me to see myself as God sees me, and it allows me to see what God wants to see in me. When she reveals to me what I am, it is not to make me feel guilty, but to encourage me to be like Christ, the perfect model.

Indeed, the perfect law of God is a law of freedom. The Word cannot be alienating, on the contrary it is liberating.

It was by looking down at this law of freedom that the reformers (though imperfect) discovered that salvation is free, it is the gift of God offered to all who believe in the perfect sacrifice of Christ. By plunging their eyes into the Word, they were able to proclaim with force : "The righteous shall live by faith" ; what a wonderful liberation ! It was by looking into the Word that Evan Roberts in Wales, Charles Fox Parham, and William Joseph Seymour in the United States relived Pentecost with the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

To search the Scriptures is to accept to question oneself, to question our habits and our traditions in order to enter into the works that God has prepared for us.

Plunge our eyes into the Word is to seek in it the one who is its source, center, heart. The religious of Jesus day searched the Scriptures, but they refused to see in Jesus the announced Messiah : "You search the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life through them. They are the ones who bear witness about me, and you do not don't want to come to me to have life !" (John 5.39-40).

As you gaze into the Scriptures, do not seek regulations, rites, ordinances, religious practices, no, seek Christ !

Listen to the voice of God

Let's take the time to listen to what God means. Ask God to show you how to enjoy His Word.

Praying is easy. Talk to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "My God, I don't want to be satisfied with just a cursory reading of your Word. Help me to let it transform me."

Praise God

To praise God is to show him our gratitude. Today, what are your subjects of recognition ? Take a moment to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now dig deeper into what you have received. What can you do to apply what God has told you ? Write down the concrete actions you can take.

Honor the Lord

Our route for the day comes to an end. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Lord, I thank you for your precious Word. It is an invaluable treasure. Yours be the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

Paul Calzada

Source (The Thought of the Day)