Guided by the Bible

Two sections of the gospel of Luke speak to the importance of basing our spiritual growth on the bible itself.

The first, appearing in Luke 24, tells the story of Jesus making a post-resurrection appearance to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. While concealing his identity so that they cannot recognize him, Jesus proceeds to explain the meaning of his life, death, and resurrection. First, it is noteworthy that Jesus is willing to teach just two people. We should find that encouraging, because if he is willing to reach out to such a small audience, he also must be willing to speak to our hearts.

But another noteworthy aspect of the "road to Emmaus" in the way in which Jesus chooses to teach. Verse 27 (KJV) reads

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Surely Jesus could have conjured up new doctrine, if he wanted. But instead, he teaches from "all the scriptures."

Now, turn to Luke 16, where Jesus tells the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. In a truly horrifying story, Jesus tells of a rich man who, following his death, is condemned to an eternity of suffering. The man begs Abraham to allow him to return to earth so that he can warn his relatives. Abraham refuses saying (verse 31, KJV)

If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

"Moses and the prophets," of course, refers to the biblical writings. The main point is that, in both the "road to Emmaus" and "Lazarus and the rich man," Jesus refers to the importance of biblical writings. Therefore, let us use the bible as the primary guide for our prayers and spiritual growth.

Go, and sin no more

In John 8, the religious leaders and lawyers brought to Jesus a woman accused of breaking Jewish law. The most famous line from that episode is undoubtedly Jesus' challenge (John 8:7, KJV),

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

The religious leaders and lawyers, recognizing their own guilt, file away, leaving just Jesus and the woman. After a brief exchange, Jesus lets her know that she is forgiven. He then sends her away with the command (John 8:11, KJV),

Go, and sin no more.

Each word here is crucial. First, "Go" implies that she should get on with her life. The "and" indicates that getting on with her life comes with another requirement. And that, of course, is to leave her sinful lifestyle.

We all know the process of repentance. We know the words required to confess our sins. But let us not ignore the other part of repentance: Sin no more. That does not mean that we'll achieve sinless perfection going forward. But it does mean that a crucial part of repentance is a firm commitment to leave our sinful lifestyles.

Rise and pray

In Luke 22, Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives. When finished, he returns to his disciples and finds them ... sleeping! Jesus' response might seem somewhat out of place (Luke 22:46, KJV),

Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Immediately after this quote, Jesus is arrested. So what "temptation" are we talking about?

As with most of Jesus' sayings, the intended audience is far broader than simply those who happen to be with him at the time. Indeed, this line seems to be a warning to all of us. Jesus likely isn't speaking negatively of sleep, because elsewhere (e.g., Matthew 26:45) Jesus actually advises his disciples to continue in their rest.

Rather, "sleep" likely references any slothful, unhealthy behavior. Jesus is telling us that the antidote to temptation and sin is really quite simple: stop what you're doing and pray!

"Fearing" God?

The bible frequently uses the word "fear" as something we should aspire to. For example, Proverbs 28:14 (KJV) reads

Happy is the man that feareth alway.

And Psalm 2:11 (KJV) directs us to

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

But "fear" as a desirable mindset stands in sharp contrast to the values of modern society, where "bravery" and "courage" are considerable noble attributes. Moreover, we are to "love" God, but how does "fear" fit into a concept of love?

There are two reasons for us to "fear." First, fear offers a strong sign of our humility, and, as James 4:6 (KJV) states,

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Second, and more importantly, we should accept how fragile our salvation really is, and we should legitimately fear the alternative to that salvation. As 1 Peter 4:18 (KJV) puts it,

If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

This passage in 1 Peter helps me reconcile the love-of-God/fear-of-God juxtaposition. We should definitely love him and praise him, because he has placed us just barely on this right side of salvation through no effort on our own part, but rather just because he loves us. And we should genuinely fear what would happen were that love to disappear.

Moses leaving Sinai

In Exodus 33, God commands Moses and the Israelites to leave Sinai. God promises victory against the inhabitants of the promise land, but he also expresses severe displeasure with the Israelites as a stubborn and "stiffnecked people."

But the same chapter also records a remarkable back-and-forth between Moses and God, and their exchange serves as a useful template for how we should interact with God through prayer. That exchange, appearing in verses 13 and 14 (KJV), starts with Moses praying,

If I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee.

To which God responds,

My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Nothing complicated here. Moses asks for grace and guidance, and God responds favorably. Let us find the strength to pray as Moses did, and the faith to believe that God's response to us will be similar.

Remembering our sins

The books of Kings and Chronicles run through a list of kings of ancient Judah and Israel, along with descriptions of their reigns. In addition, those books usually provide a note of the kings' characters. For example, 2 Chronicles‬ ‭36:9‬ ‭(KJV‬‬) reads,

Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

To me, the most jarring part of this passage is that Jehoiachin was only eight years old! How can an eight-year-old commit acts that are "evil"? And, moreover, he managed to commit those "evil" acts in only three months of rule!

How many of us can remember our sins from age eight? For that matter, can we recount our less-than-holy actions from even a month ago? Are we really held to account for sins we can't remember? David seemed to lament this very point (Psalm 40:12, KJV),

Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me ... they are more than the hairs of mine head.

So what to do? Yes, we will be held to account for all sins, but trying to form a lengthy list of them is likely a losing endeavor. Instead, we look to the cross and confess that our entire being tends toward sinful desires and actions. Something like Psalm 32:5 (KJV),

I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

Journey to the Promised Land

Deuteronomy 11 contains a wonderful promise from God. In verses 18-25 (KJV), God says,

...lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul ... that your days may be multiplied ... in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them... For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you ... then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you ... every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours ... There shall no man be able to stand before you...

As with many parts of the bible, those words appear to contain dual meanings, one immediate and the other more shadowy and distant.

As for the immediate, God was promising the Israelites that they would soon come into possession of the land promised to Abraham. And, of course, the subsequent historical books of the bible bear record of that.

But those historical books also record many trials and tribulations for the Israelites even after they come into possession of the land. So it would seem that God's promises were never fully fulfilled. That brings us to the more distance meaning behind those promises. The "Promised Land" appears also to apply to the end point of our earthly journey, and to that end, God's promises apply to all of us, even today.

Most pertinent to us: We should view our earthly journey as analogous to the Israelites roaming through the desert for 40 years. We seek our "Promised Land" that has been promised.