John 5:39 

“Searching the Scriptures “

Verse 39, "Search the scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me!" By the way, these are the words of Jesus written in red in my Bible!

So I chose a different theme today, because in March on Sundays we will be talking about when the “Kingdom of God Comes.” Of course, no one but our Heavenly Father knows when. Matt 2:36. “Of that day and that hour no man knows, not even the angels In heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

So, if we know not the day or hour, how can we prepare? Well, our text from John 5 gives some very good advice. It tells us scripture bears witness about Jesus! So the theme of my blog today is searching the scriptures! Searching the scriptures brings us to John 3:16 “The Gospel in a nutshell,” It brings us to John 14:6 “Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life! No man comes to the Father but by Me!” This is a scripture that taken to heart, will indeed prepare us for the coming of the Kingdom!

Luke chapter 2, the beautiful and familiar Christmas story about the birth of Jesus in a lowly stable, to humble parents, prepares us for His Second Coming by telling us about the “First”.
The accounts in the Gospels tell about the Passion of Christ, His death, and triumphant Resurrection which are integral to our faith! 

1Peter 2:9 Tells us we are a chosen race,a royal priesthood, a people of God’s own possession, that we PROCLAIM the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are called for His MISSION to tell others about JESUS!

In Paul’s writings to the Galatians 4:6 "because you are sons(and daughters) God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, “Abba Father”". 4:7 "So we are no longer a slave, but a Son, and if a Son, than an heir through God."

Wow! I know I mentioned this on Ash Wednesday, but it bears repeating! We are ADOPTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER!!!! And, because that’s what we are by faith and the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit, then, we will rejoice even in death, and for sure we will rejoice when God’s Kingdom Comes Again! 

You see, my fellow brothers and sisters In Christ, searching the scriptures, allows the Holy Spirit to work saving faith into the hearts of all of us, His Children! And Ephesians 2:8,9 tells us we are “saved by grace through faith.” 

To sum it up, our pastor’s encouragement to read the Bible daily is exactly what “Searching the Scriptures means."  Search the scriptures for in them you have “Eternal Life”!

My confirmation verse is Rev 2:10b, Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a “Crown of Life”. That is, Eternal Life”!

My prayer is that by searching the scriptures, all of us, will be prepared, for the Coming of the Kingdom of God!
In Jesus Name, Amen

Gary Riedel