THE BOOK OR THE STORY

This question has come to me many times: Do I remember the book or the story? Do I remember scripture text… or what they mean …or what they said?

I was raised in an environment that carefully and closely taught the importance of ‘book, chapter and verse’ as one read and studied the Bible. This can certainly be valuable as one progresses into more serious study about what and where things are found in the Bible. It has also served as a lifetime pattern for my process of memorizing scripture. It is just the way I still do it: book, chapter and verse.

Along the way I have also determined that many of the stories of scripture, though I may know where they are found, do I know what they mean? Did I get the story? Do I understand what the story was supposed to mean and do for the reader or hearer? Did I become part of the story? If we miss the story… the message… it really doesn’t matter much where it is located in the Bible. This is not an excuse to be limp, lame and lackadaisical about Bible study habits and to not be in touch with the source of the stories, but it is to remind us to know what they say and mean. Stories we remember… books not so much.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” Jesus