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Feb 27, 2023 18:30pm

The Very Word of God

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I sat stunned, listening as voices echoed around me. I knew I hadn’t misheard. I knew I had the right information, but that’s not what hit me so hard.

How could I not know this?

I was sitting next to Shaun in our Sunday school class, as I was every Sunday morning. The lesson that day had mentioned a particular event in the Bible from the gospels. I don’t remember much of anything said during class or church, but that day changed my life.

“For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.” (Mark 6:17-29)

John the Baptist was beheaded.

Maybe I did know it and forgot. But in that moment, sitting in a room full of people, it was like I was hearing it for the first time. I kept saying to myself, how did I not know this? I’m a Christian, I’m a Baptist! How could I not know something so important.

And then I started questioning what I really did know. What was in the Bible that I still hadn’t learned about? Were there other people that were so important to the Christian faith that were killed like this? Were there more stories that would have such an impact?

I opened my Bible to the front and saw the table of contents with a list of all the books in the Bible. Sure, I knew some stories from Genesis, the gospels and Revelation, but what about all of these others? Could I name a single person from the book of Malachi? Could I name one thing that happened in 2 Chronicles or Amos? I felt an overwhelming need to begin studying the Bible. If these were the very words of God and I claimed He was my Savior, then how could I not?

I enrolled in Faith Bible Institute, a college level course offered through video at our church (by the way, you can offer it at your church too). The Bible came to life for me like never before. I learned of how all the books of the Bible fit together, how the scarlet thread of Jesus’ sacrifice weaved through the Old Testament and the New. I learned of real people who had given their lives for the Lord and His truth, people that were nothing and God chose to use them in great ways, and I discovered more and more about who I was in Christ. For 3 years, I poured over the pages of the Bible, the Wilmington, notecards and quizlets and completed my Associates. And even though the classes are over, every morning, you can find me in my chair diving into the pages of scripture.

Why?

Because I want to know more about Jesus. I want to learn more about who He has created me to be, how I fit into His plan, how I should treat others that have wronged me and how I should humble my prideful self to admit when I am wrong.

I want to know about the amazing men and women whose lives were touched and healed by the Messiah, try to understand why so many rejected Him, and how it all applies to our lives today.

My favorite part of this journey is that, no matter how far I travel with Jesus through this book, it will never end. I could finish reading the Bible 10 times and go back and something new pops out at me as I read it the 11th time.

How is this possible?

Because it is the very word of God.

Do you want to hear God’s voice? Do you want to draw near to the Lord, the very one that saved you?

Open your bible.

Ask someone to disciple you.

Get involved in a class or small group at your church.

I still want to know more. Don’t you?