In this message, I want to investigate the distance between the Bible’s pages and those who read and study them. Also, the gap between the head and the heart. And finally, the space between the person and a place. My hope is that this teaching will help you understand the Bible and learn how to apply its truth in everyday life.
Text: Exodus 3:1-5
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
I’ll come back to this statement shortly. In the meantime, let’s begin to explore the three distances I mentioned a moment ago:
- The distance between page and person.
I will say some things that will, hopefully, challenge your thinking. My goal is to teach you things that will cause contemplation and create healthy discussions. And isn’t this what we want? Or do we want to turn up Sunday after Sunday to do our “Christian” thing and hear a lovely message that agrees with everything we already believe? If so, what’s the point?
I want to teach you things that will allow for ongoing conversation long after the sermon has ended. Are you ready?
This is sacred Scripture, but the words were never meant to stay on the page.
The words of scripture were never meant to stay on the page. They were designed to travel the distance between the page and the person.
There’s meant to be a relationship between the pages of the scriptures and human beings.
The pages and words are sacred. You are sacred. But what is alive and dynamic, is the interaction between the page and the person.
I’ll illustrate this to allow this truth to sink in.
The earth is sacred. In fact, all of life is sacred.
Consider Psalm 24:1, The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
The earth is sacred. All of life is sacred. YOU are sacred (because of Jesus).
Now, think of this, our primary place of interaction with the earth is the souls of our feet as our text suggests: God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
We see this same truth at the fall of Jericho:
Joshua 5:15, The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Paul tells us to have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
I think Paul may have had the prophet Isaiah’s (52:7) words in mind:
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news.
Thousands of our nerve endings go to our feet. If you want to connect with the earth, take off your shoes and socks.
There’s something incredible about walking barefooted and allowing our feet to connect directly to God’s sacred earth. It’s the relationship between us and the earth that becomes dynamic and lifegiving. It’s the same with the scriptures. The pages and words are sacred. You are sacred. What’s alive and vibrant is the interaction between the page and the person.
Think about this as you read, study, and reflect on scripture. Be aware of the life that exists in the space between the page and yourself (or your group).
The scriptures are alive and dynamic and exciting, not dead and dull.
Get into your head the fact that you will NEVER finish the Bible or understand it fully. Also, each time you read it you may see something that you’ve never seen before. It’s active, vibrant, and inspiring.
Some practical suggestions
Read an actual Bible rather than technology.
If you don’t/can’t read, listen to an audio Bible.
Be aware of the bias that you bring to scripture.
Approach the scriptures with humility.
Consider other ways to view the story.
Challenge or test your beliefs regularly.
Read the scriptures, NOT a commentary.
2. The distance between head and heart.
I LOVE reading and studying the Bible.
I am fascinated by Scripture. I love discovering new things (truth that is new to me). I love seeing old truths in new ways. But if all this knowledge is stored in my head as fascinating facts or as ways to win theological arguments, then what is its ultimate value?
The facts are helpful and thought-provoking, but our heads can be packed with facts, while our lives remain unchanged.
Q. Have you ever met a brilliant, stupid person?
I wonder if you and I have ever been like that – knowing a lot about the Bible, able to run theological rings around others, but not reflecting the nature and character of Jesus. When we know the Bible, but are mean, angry, unloving, judgmental, and unkind, we demonstrate the massive distance between our head and our heart.
And so, read and study the Bible, learn it, memorise it, discuss it, investigate it BUT, most importantly, ask yourself these questions:
Q. How does this apply to my life?
Q. How does this truth change me?
That leads to my final point. Next week!
Discussion Questions
Share your experiences of seeing something in scripture for the first time. What was it? How did you feel? What actions did you take?
Read Psalm 24:1. What impact does it have on you knowing that the earth, and all its people, belong to the Lord?
Do you ever walk barefooted? Why do you enjoy it? How does it make you feel? Discuss this as an example of the impact of the relationship that exists between you and the pages of scripture.
Do you feel you’ve post something by only reading the Bible via technology? Have you considered reverting, at least sometimes, to reading the scriptures from a Bible?
What are possible biases you could bring to the scriptures?
Choose a Bible story and consider other ways to view it. Share together. Everyone’s interpretation and understanding are valid.
Discuss: “Our heads can be packed with facts, while our lives remain unchanged.”