Life

 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
John 5:40 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.5.40.ESV

In the context, the religious people Jesus was speaking to diligently searched the Scriptures, because they thought they'd find life in them. Jesus said that the Scriptures testify about Him. Words on a page don't bring life, but the Word made flesh does.

It is possible to be a diligent student of Scripture, and still be a stranger to God's grace. I remember chatting to some Mormons for a long time. My friend told them they weren't Christians. One replied that he studied the Bible every day before breakfast! We answered that doing such a thing doesn't make us Christians.

As Jesus said on the road to Emmaus, all Scripture is ultimately about Him. So if we're studying Scripture and not finding Christ, we're missing the point. There's no point wasting our time!

Instead of studying the Bible every day before breakfast and missing the wood for the trees, that Mormon I met would have just as well had a lie in! Of course, I'm not saying that Bible study is pointless, but if it doesn't lead to Christ, it is.

'God, forbid that we should fail to come to You as we read the pages of Scripture. May we find the Living Word in the pages of this book, and so have life in Him. In His name we pray, amen'

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