Ever watch the Food Network? Whenever my wife and I find ourselves watching that channel, we are constantly marveling at the food and skill of so many of the chefs/restaurants. Most of the time I just get really hungry and then realize that there is nowhere in town to buy tacos and then I get sad. But, that’s besides the point. The truth is, we all love good food, we all need food, and there is nothing quite like digging into a great meal.

As humans there is just something about being well-nourished. There is something about the welcoming sights and smells of delicious recipes brought to life and the comfort and satisfaction a good meal can bring. I find this to be true of God’s Word as well. There is nothing like digging into the Scriptures and finding true nourishment for the soul. This is why God’s Word is so central to discipleship.

In the Great Commission, Jesus said,

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:19-20)

We’ve heard so often to go and make disciples, but we forget that a big part of that is teaching. And we aren’t to teach them just anything mind you, we are to teach them what Jesus said. A lot of times discipleship is limited to simply hanging out or a lot of personal opinion is shared with statements like “I think…” being strewn as gospel truth throughout conversation. The trouble is that what “I think” may not and most likely isn’t quite in line with what Jesus says.

If we are to make disciples by teaching them Jesus’ commands, then we better well be in the Word to see what that exactly is. Disciples and disciple-makers need to be people of the Book or people of the text.

It is tragic to disciple people without using the tools that we have been given to do so. So, what does this look like?

Look at how Jesus does it in Luke 24:

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

(Luke 24:25-27)

Jesus showed these men that all of Scripture points to Him. We constantly need to draw others to the over-arching theme of redemption in Jesus. Everything, all of our obedience and calls to live the Christian life come from the central idea that Jesus saves and that we can’t do this on our own. Again, Jesus says:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,”

(John 5:39)

The Bible is about Jesus.

Are you hungry? Do you need a good meal? Grab your Bible, look to Jesus, and dig in.