For over a year I’ve been involved in the development of a new website for Faculty Commons, the ministry where I work. Almost ready for launch, we sent the soon to be released site out to several people for review. Along with excitement about the site, folks noticed typos, some wording issues and a few other problems.

Fresh eyes on the website proved super helpful. I and my team had looked at it so long we glossed over important details we needed to fix.

I can treat reading my Bible the same way. In doing so I’m not alone, as Jesus scolded the Pharisees for the same problem. He told them, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

These Pharisees studied the Hebrew scriptures intently. They read daily and memorized vast portions. As students of the scriptures they were unsurpassed, but they got lost in minutia and missed the main point. The power of God faded beneath their parsing of the text.

Rigid adherence to rules often masks a heart more interested in control than understanding ways of the Lord. The scriptures exist to draw us close to the Lord and experience his power. Lock him down and you miss the point.

Pray for fresh eyes as you open the Good Book.

Matthew 22 in reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Philippe Bout