The discovery of truth and the proper interpretation of God’s
Word are paramount in knowing God, responding to Him in obedience, and for the
mission of reaching and teaching others for His glory. The understanding of interpreting the
Scriptures grows more complex from the simple embrace of gospel into a shared
unity with the transcendent God. There should be an ever growing approach to be approved by God
as a student of Scripture (2 Tim 2:15).
We should never settle for anything less.
As we handle the Word of God and grow in our ability to
shoulder the responsibility of its proper interpretation, I hope that our work
would claim the highest security clearance in view of the holy presence of the
Lord. Our delivery of His great treasure
should stand alongside the priority of prayer. No other gift should find level comparison
with the preacher or teacher.
The
measure of correctness and clarity in understanding and proclaiming the word of
God in our times should cause today’s interpreters of Scripture to be more
vigilant than ever. In our day, it is
more en vogue to be subjectively
creative in miscommunicating the meaning of Scripture than to inductively study
the Bible, using an exegetical process that seeks to understand the author of
the text or what God means by what is said.
It is amazing to hear more and more individuals articulate ‘their story’
as the vehicle of relevant communication of God’s Word above the biblical text
itself. Hearing this kind of religious
communication or sermonizing seems to allow the right interpretation of the
text to fall flat.
If
only the seriousness of getting the right interpretation of what God is
communicating would light upon ministers today in similar fashion as in the
demand of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, “Give me the interpretation!” There is no room for creative oration. Only an accurate account of what God is
communicating will save not only our souls, but the souls of those associated
with us.
So, I am back to the drawing board, so to speak. I love ink covered pages that unfold the
truth of God’s Word. More than ever
before, a passion for a faithful pursuit and communication of His Word is
demanded. God’s people need the proper
interpretation of God’s Word and the world we live in demands that we cut it
straight when it comes to the truth.
