Our God is a God of relationships.  Miraculously, God wants to interact with and maintain a relationship with us, even though we constantly disobey and turn away.  God’s story is intertwined with us; the Bible is our story with God.  I believe it was created through a series of experiences between God and individuals and God and communities of faith.  The Bible we have today is inspired by God, written by humans and carefully and faithfully comprised.  It was written for a particular people at a particular time and is passed on to reveal God to us, and for God to communicate a relevant message today through God’s Word.

The stories were passed on orally and then faithfully transcribed, compiled, expanded, added to, adapted, and integrated by Jewish Scribes.  Likewise, the New Testament was created through experiences with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  First hand witnesses created written accounts and letters.  These accounts were copied and shared within the early church and recognized as canon by later church councils to form the Bible we have today.  Eventually, they were translated into common languages for all to read and understand.  It is a collection of stories about God, and God’s relationship with humankind.

I believe God uses these imperfect, yet truth-filled and surprisingly accurate writings to reveal God’s self to us, witness to God’s activity in the world, and to speak to us.  The Bible both brings us to God and God to us.  It is a meeting place.  It is a book primarily written for community and meant to be read and heard publicly because it is a book about the relationship between God and all people.  Through the Bible, God reveals God’s self to us, draws us into closer relationship with God and neighbor, and calls us into action, asking us to participate with God in renewing and restoring creation.

I hope knowing a little about how Scripture was created, and what it is and is not, will aid in your Scriptural study and deepen your understanding.  It’s not necessary, or even advised, to always read Scripture as a text to study.  Sometimes I read Scripture as a love letter, sometimes as a prayer, sometimes I simply ask: how is it speaking to me personally in this moment?  Sometimes I read Scripture in a group and sometimes alone.  No matter how you read Scripture, know it’s the Word of God.  I hope you have gained a deeper appreciation for the miraculous ways we meet and encounter God through Scripture.  Like Wayne wrote a couple of weeks ago, we read Scripture so we can come to see and know God: Come and See.  Read I Corinthians 2:9-12, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+2:9-12