January 24

“Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29

When Herod asked the priests and scribes where the Christ should be born, they at once recited from memory the prophet’s words: “In Bethlehem of Judea.” How well they knew their Scriptures! They could give an immediate answer when called upon. And was their reply wrong? Not at all. Yet this was the surprising thing, that after they had answered the question, not one of those scribes or elders set out for Bethlehem. What they knew was quite accurate; nevertheless they only used it to point the way to the magi—and then went back to their books. They functioned like a traffic policeman who directs people to where they want to go, but himself remains at his post.

This will not do, it is not enough just to know the Bible; we must also know the power of God. Understanding what he says in the Scriptures is not sufficient if it does not lead us to know God himself. We need to have personal dealings with him, acting on his words in faith. The pathway to the knowledge of God is through such actions. There is no other way.