But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
As reminder, the theme for our 40 days journey this year is Our Identity. Starting today we turn our attentions to the Disciplines, starting with Bible Study. Over the next three days, we will focus on the relationship between the Discipline of Bible Study and our identity.
There are so many forces in and around us fighting to define and determine our identity. Some, including marketers and politicians, spend billions of dollars in this pursuit. In this sea of influences stands the word of God. Do we trust it more than every other resource, even a psychological test?
Please reflect on the two Bible verses above. In the passage from 1 Samuel, we see the difference between us and God in assessing who people really are. “For the Lord sees not as man sees”. In the passage from Galatians, we see that believers are brought into a new “identity”. “It is no longer I who live”.
Something to think about:
How do the verses speak to you about the role Bible study should play in understanding our real identity?