May 3 – Experience the Scriptures

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.'” John 4:42

“If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:3

It is an important thing to know, assuredly, that the Scripture has such a witness as experience, and that there is a real correspondence between the saints and the Word, between the believer and Christ. What an empty thing would religion be without a heartfelt knowledge of its truth! Experience is the sure and secret mark whereby the Christian knows that the Scripture is of God, and feels his own interest in Christ; he has been often raised from the depths of gloom by the application of the Word to his heart. O what an excellent interpreter is experience! Thus the serious Christian obtains a view of the Scripture and spiritual things, which the most piercing eye of unsanctified schoolmen cannot teach (Psalm 34:8, Psalm 116:10, 2 Timothy 1:12, Galatians 2:16, Hebrews 4:3).

This cannot be found in books. Men will not meet with it in a throng of the choicest notions. It confounds the wise and disputer of this world, while the most simple Christian understands it well, to the satisfaction of his soul.

Reader, press after experience. Live not by hearsay and upon the comforts of others, but entreat the Lord to give you this inward testimony. It will help you in future trials. It will remove many of your fears and make your passage through life easy and comfortable.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)