“Search the Scriptures.” — John 5:39
The Greek word here rendered search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. Holy Scripture requires searching — much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word, yea, upon every title of Scripture. Tertullian exclaims, “I adore the fulness of the Scriptures.” No man who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the word only opens to…
the key of diligence. The Scriptures claimsearching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp andimprimatur — who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despisesthem despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us shouldleave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day ofaccount. The word of God will repay searching. God does not bid us sift amountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible iswinnowed corn — we have but to open the granary door and find it.Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under theteaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendour ofrevelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed withrubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No merchandise like themerchandise of Scripture truth. Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: “Theyare they which testify of Me.” No more powerful motive can be urgedupon Bible readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, allthings. Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Saviour.
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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen