The study of the Word

Been reading a short biography of Luther today.
A couple of things captured my attention.

1. Luther struggled for a long time, despairingly to understand the meaning of the words in the Bible. It's a challenge to me as I consider how I regard my study of the Bible. Do I spend as much time agonising over the meaning - or do I go with the first one that comes to my mind.
And look at what Luther discovered in his efforts - justification by faith. A doctrine that so many of us take for granted today. So, there's my challenge now, not to find something theologically novel, but rather to soak myself in the Bible to let it shape me, so that I can better teach it to others.

2. Luther was a man of passion, who was a scholar, who was a preacher. This is an interesting combination. A lot of the time we consider scholars to be dry, boring types - maybe a bit like politicians or IT professionals, but Luther breaks this mould. He is a man of passion, convicted by the truth of the Bible. You can be both - is what I learnt. You can have knowledge, and a passion for the truth, and along with that, a heart to share it with others. Now there were definitely times that Luther's passion probably got the better of him, but there is still much we can learn from him too.

Check you later.