S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 7 1                 14 July '96


                "Search the Scriptures."
                                                     --John 5:39

   An Inspiational Message from the Pen of Charles H. Spurgeon

The Greek word here rendered search signifies a strict, close, diligent,
curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters
when they are in earnest after game. We must not rest content with having
given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of
the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word.
Holy Scripture requires searching--much of it can only be learned by
careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. 

The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word,
yea, upon every tittle of Scripture. Tertullian exclaims, "I adore the
fulness of the Scriptures." No man who merely skims the book of God can
profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The
door of the word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures claim
searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and
imprimatur-- who shall dare to treat them with levity? 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. The word of God will repay searching. God does not bid us sift a
mountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the
Bible is winnowed corn--we have but to open the granary door and find it.
Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the
teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendour
of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed with
rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No merchandise like the
merchandise of Scripture truth. 

Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: "They are they which 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 he who, searching his
Bible, discovers his Saviour. 

                                - from Spurgeon's daily devotional entitled,
                                        "Evening by Evening"  (June 9)

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