What Is the Bible?

            What is the Bible? If I were to ask you this question, you might answer that it is a book that tells us about God. Some might say that the Bible instructs us about God’s commands and requirements.  Others might say that the Bible tells us about life and how to live that life for God. While all of these statements are true, let me steer the question in a particular direction.  The Bible might be looked at as a textbook with information about God.  It might be used as a handbook to lead people to salvation.  It might be used as a weapon to fight the Devil and his angels.  However, it must be said that the Bible does all these things and more.  The Bible is more than a book that inspires the soul.  It is more than an “anti-depressant," or a crutch to help us through tough times.  The Bible is God speaking to us.

            For many people, the Bible has been reduced to a book containing rules and principles that keep us out of moral potholes.  I recently cringed when I heard that a financial book made the best-seller list offering “hidden insights” and “money-code” principles from the Bible. While I do believe that the Bible offers sound stewardship truths, I wonder if we are missing the point regarding what the Bible is and why God gave it to us. At the risk of being misunderstood and labeled a “mystic," I would suggest that when we approach the Bible, we would be wise to ask ourselves whose voice we hear.  Yes, we need to read the words.  Yes, we need to make a careful examination of what has been written, but we also need to understand that the Bible is God’s love letter to each of us.  The Bible is more than a collection of 66 books written by many different human authors.  It is the very breath of God speaking to us.  God has bent low and speaks into each person’s ear as they read God’s words of life. The Bible claims to be inspired — “breathed-out” — by God.  God has bathed the Scriptures with His Holy Spirit.  Because of this, the Bible is capable of exhorting, encouraging, correcting, rebuking, and teaching us in the most intimate ways.  Because God speaks to us through the Bible, we are encouraged to pay careful attention to this holy message.

            Our world is always seeking after the next great thing, the newest breakthrough.  Truth be told, we have always had that great thing at our fingertips.  I would encourage you to take time to sit down and read your Bible.  Don’t simply flatten the message of the Bible into clichés and slogans.  It is more than sentimental “God-talk” intended to inspire and motivate.  God is reaching out to everyone; God wants to speak to each of us.  What an honor it is to have the Creator of the Universe desire to spend time with us.  We are God’s children, and He wants fellowship with each of us.  Take time today, slow down, take out your Bible, and listen.  Do this and keep looking up!