Bible:
Crucial Importance of Reading the Bible Daily
Two important Bible
words: Logos & Rhema
LOGOS: the entire
Bible, the written Word of God.
RHEMA: a specific,
spoken word or utterance. It is often used to describe a personal, direct
communication from God, such as a prophetic word, a word of encouragement, or a
specific guidance. It’s the individual Scripture which the Spirit brings to our
remembrance in time of need, a pre-requisite being the regular storing of the
mind with Scripture. Jesus said “the Holy Spirit will remind you of all I have
said to you.” (John 14:26)
For example, in the
life of St Anthony of the Desert, whilst discerning God’s will he went into a
church as the Gospel of the rich young man was being read. (Matthew 19:16-30)
His biographer wrote: “As
tho’ this reminder of the saints had been sent to him by God, AND AS THO’ THAT
PASSAGE HAS BEEN READ SPECIALLY FOR HIS SAKE”. Anthony immediately obeyed.
(D.O. 1,p.84*)
Also St Francis of
Assisi was at Mass one day when a passage of the Gospel was read. He was
overjoyed and grasped the meaning of the passage immediately and said ‘This
is what I want’. (St Bonaventure’s LM 3 (O.p. 646)
Also Fr Jock Dalrymple
after his conversion: “I started to read the Bible and found that passages
glowed on the pages as if addressed personally to me by God”.
This can also happen to
us when we read the Bible seriously for guidance, especially the New Testament.
St Peter states that the Devil never tires of trying to tempt us to sin: “Your
enemy the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to
eat. Stand up to him strong in faith”. (1 Peter 5:8; cf. Job 1:6-7) How
do we become ‘strong in faith’?
“Faith comes from
hearing the Word” (Romans 10:17) OR reading the Word. Jesus said “Make my Word
your home”. (John 8:31) “He who is of God hears the words of God; if you do not
hear them, it is because you are not of God”. (John 8:47)
St James warns that
“you must DO whatever the Word tells you not just listen to it and deceive
yourself”. (James 1:22)
Jesus warns that “THE
ONE WHO REJECTS ME AND DOES NOT RECEIVE MY WORDS HAS A JUDGE: THE WORD I HAVE
SPOKEN WILL JUDGE THEM ON THE LAST DAY”. (John 12:48)
How can Christians
resist the thoughts of gluttony, fornication, pride et cetera that assail us
daily? According to Evagrius of Ponticus (345-399 A.D.) one of the greatest spiritual
directors of the time: we should talk back to Demons or temptations with
relevant passages from the Bible like Jesus in the desert. (Matthew 4:1-17)
Hence the importance of reading the Bible, especially the new Testament.
Caution re Psalms:
Beware of the Old Testament standards as the New Testament has a higher
standard: not curses or hate but forgiveness and love. (Mathew 5:17-48)
