Quotable

How Readest Thou?

Christ’s question must concern

Each eager praying one who would discern
The real meaning of the Book of books
When through its pages he with patience looks.

Some read to bring themselves into repute,

While showing others who they can dispute.

And others read it with uncommon care,
But all to find some contradiction there.
Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,
Thus understand but little that they read,
And every passage of the book they bend
To make it suit their own determined end.
’Tis one thing, friend, to read the Bible through.

Another thing to read, to learn and do.
’Tis one thing, too, to read it with delight
And quite another thing to read aright.
Jesus said, “What does it say—how readest thou?” 
(Luke:10:26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
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—Author Unknown

The outcome of trials and griefs is His to shape in ways we cannot imagine. But History, even our personal history, will be seen to be His story. And Divine Love and Wisdom, working in harmony, could take human lives punctuated with human failure and weave chapters that complement perfectly the story of salvation into which He has woven our lives. It will be breathtakingly beautiful when He signs His name at the end.

—Archie Ross, longtime missionary to Africa, 2000