“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
The confession of faith says, “Through the Holy Spirit, God moved human witnesses to write what is needed for salvation, for guidance in faith and life, and for devotion to God.” Those prophets and authors/writers who wrote the books that are included in what we call “The Bible” did not set out to find “fame and fortune” through writing. In fact, some of them suffered for what they wrote and what they felt God was telling them to say. I think of Hosea whose personal/family life was torn apart for the purpose of God’s warnings and cautions to the Hebrews/Israelites. I think of Jeremiah who was punished by those around him during the time he was prophesying. Can it really be that these people suffered all this just so we would have scripture for our Sunday morning services?
Perhaps that “large investment for seemingly small returns” is why we honor scripture and use it – because we remember and honor the men and women who lived their lives giving their all for God, and we reverence the Spirit who inspired such devotion and sacrifice. And we live and work in solidarity with those we read about, passing along their guidance by reading and studying their words and deeds.
It is not the men and women who made the scriptures holy, nor is it that their words are infallible. It is that they, and we, worship and reverence a holy God. It is our Lord’s inspiration that makes the words take on a life of their own, because they point to the way to live for God for eternity.
May you gentle reader read the scriptures, listening the stories of men and women of God and learn how your Lord wants you to live. Selah!
