4/6 John 5:39-40

³⁹ "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."

Just reading the Bible is not enough to attain eternal life. Jesus was talking to people who studied Scripture and memorized large portions of it. The way to life is found in those pages, but life is not simply knowing the words. Life is to know Jesus. Scripture's purpose is to introduce us to Jesus. He opened the Scriptures to the two on the road to Emmaus and showed them that the Law and the Prophets were about Him and what He would accomplish (Luke 24:25-27). The purpose of those Scriptures is for us to understand Jesus' life and all that He means to us (John 5:46).

No wonder Paul wrote that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6). Many brilliant men have devoted their lives to studying the Scriptures and yet never came to Jesus to have life. The letters on pages do not look us in the eyes and convict us of our desperate need to know Christ's death as our substitution unless we allow the Spirit access to our hearts. Every time we open our Bible we have a choice, either to just either read words or to come face-to-face with Jesus.

I'm glad you are reading these devotional thoughts, but my desire for you does not end there. My intent is that you develop a hunger to meet Jesus in the Scriptures and in coming to Him have life. Set aside a regular time alone with the Bible and invite Jesus to speak to you personally. Then pray about what you just read and let Jesus apply it to your life. Lift up your eyes, look into His eyes, and hear what He has to say to you. That is life!

Consider: Do I love Jesus enough to take time with Him each day and allow Him to speak to me?