Devotional Thoughts

In my devotions the other day (Jay and I are doing the one year Bible) I came across this passage:

5When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."

8Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


After reading this, I couldn't help but think about the fact that Christians still today act like the disciples acted in that passage. Jesus was trying desperately to tell them something, but all they could focus on was the fact that they didn't have any bread. All too often, Christians argue and focus on specific wording, rules and instances in scripture that they miss the fact that Jesus is standing right there, trying to tell them something through it all. No offense to the fundamentalists out there, but I believe that some of the Bible is told in parable form, obviously in the clearly stated "parables" that Jesus tells, but in some other stories as well. The Bible is a beautiful, poetic book that has immense meaning and application to each and every Christian, and I am not in any way denouncing its worth. However, I get annoyed with the fact that Christians are so concerned about fighting over whether the stories in the Bible really happened or not, if the earth was actually created in 6 days, or stupid details like that....that they miss the beauty and the message that God is trying to portray through the passage and through the talented writings of the historians and prophets who wrote the Bible.

Living this mentality has really changed the way I read the Bible- now, instead of trying to memorize facts and take the stories at face value, I am constantly thinking "What was God trying to say in this passage? What does He want us to take from this as a society and as individuals?" It has really led me to feel strongly that we need to live as Jesus lived, and that is the point of life. Period. Its not about "winning people to the other side" or "getting to heaven", its about letting Jesus shine through you so that other people can't help but take notice.