Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

June 9– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Search the Scriptures.” 

—John 5:39

To “search” means to look for something with a strict, close, diligence, such as those who are seeking gold or hunters when they track down game. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two of Scripture, but, with the candle of the Spirit, we must deliberately seek out the full meaning of the text.

Holy Scripture requires searching. Much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes but also meat for mature adults. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word. The church father, Tertullian, said, “I adore the fullness of the Scriptures.”

No man who merely skims the book of God can profit by it; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hidden treasure. The door of the word is only opened by the key of diligence. The Scriptures demand searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and warrant. Who, then, would dare to treat them lightly? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account.

Thankfully, the word of God repays our searching. God does not tell us to sift through a mountain of chaff to gain a mere grain of wheat. The Bible is full of harvested corn; we only have to open the granary door and find it.

Over time, Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. The Holy Spirit causes the searching eye to glow in the splendor of revelation, like a vast temple paved with gold and outfitted with all kinds of gems.

Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus; he says, “They testify of me.” No more powerful motive can be urged upon Bible readers than this. He who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all things. Happy is he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Savior. [M&E]