Letter by Christine Sackey

Some people get letters from someone they love, and they treasure those letters. They take them out and read them over and over again. Pondering those words makes them feel close to their loved one.

I used to read the Bible pretty casually. I read it mostly because I had been told that was something Christians are supposed to do. But several months ago I changed the way I read. Instead of skimming through the stories, skipping the boring parts — all those begats! — I started reading one book at a time, slowly, word for word, and taking time to ponder the meaning of what I was reading. 

And especially, I took time to investigate how it tied in with other parts of the Bible. That is made easier because I purchased a study Bible that has footnotes directing me to verses in other parts of the Bible that tie in with a verse I just read. I had believed it when I was told that the entire Bible actually forms a coherent whole, but now I have seen that with my own eyes. Sixty-six books. Dozens of men over centuries writing those books. And one story. One author: God.

I used to avoid reading any books by the prophets. The few I tried to read were too puzzling and disturbing. What richness I was missing out on! What a love story is told in the Old Testament. Book after book tells of the deep love God has for us, and his continuing efforts to draw us to him.

The entire Bible tells the same story: God loves us, and wants to dwell among us and have fellowship with us. He sent his own son to die on the cross to make this possible. And he wants this so much that he gives humans chance after chance to repent of their self-centered ways and turn to him.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness,” Peter wrote. “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

And here’s the best part: As soon as we repent, he forgives us. No matter what we’ve done. If you read the stories, you’ll find that the Israelites did some appalling things. “He does not treat us as our sins deserve,” a Psalmist wrote. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103: 10, 12)

I used to see shirts and bumper stickers and things with the words, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Those are sort of frivolous, but they actually state a profound truth. We serve a living God, a God who loves us. A God who forgives. A truth that is repeated over and over again throughout the Bible — God’s love letter to us.

I used to read the Bible pretty casually. I read it mostly because I had been told that was something Christians are supposed to do. But several months ago I changed the way I read. Instead of skimming through the stories, skipping the boring parts — all those begats! — I started reading one book at a time, slowly, word for word, and taking time to ponder the meaning of what I was reading. 

And especially, I took time to investigate how it tied in with other parts of the Bible. That is made easier because I purchased a study Bible that has footnotes directing me to verses in other parts of the Bible that tie in with a verse I just read. I had believed it when I was told that the entire Bible actually forms a coherent whole, but now I have seen that with my own eyes. Sixty-six books. Dozens of men over centuries writing those books. And one story. One author: God.

I used to avoid reading any books by the prophets. The few I tried to read were too puzzling and disturbing. What richness I was missing out on! What a love story is told in the Old Testament. Book after book tells of the deep love God has for us, and his continuing efforts to draw us to him.

The entire Bible tells the same story: God loves us, and wants to dwell among us and have fellowship with us. He sent his own son to die on the cross to make this possible. And he wants this so much that he gives humans chance after chance to repent of their self-centered ways and turn to him.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness,” Peter wrote. “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

And here’s the best part: As soon as we repent, he forgives us. No matter what we’ve done. If you read the stories, you’ll find that the Israelites did some appalling things. “He does not treat us as our sins deserve,” a Psalmist wrote. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103: 10, 12)

I used to see shirts and bumper stickers and things with the words, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Those are sort of frivolous, but they actually state a profound truth. We serve a living God, a God who loves us. A God who forgives. A truth that is repeated over and over again throughout the Bible — God’s love letter to us.