Dear friends in Christ,
This Sunday, our church prays one of my favorite collects. Composed by Thomas Cranmer almost 500 years ago, it invites us to savor and be transformed by the riches of scripture. Here’s the Rite II version:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I love that this collect helps us both with the HOW and WHY of Bible study. The how is clear: we should read scripture, mark up our Bibles, learn well what we are reading, and then “inwardly digest” the message. This is not, of course, literal eating of scripture! Rather, this is an invitation for us to digest what we have read, to take it fully into our lives.
The why is important, too. We are meant to be transformed by our encounters with scripture so that we can embrace and hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life. In a world of chaos and distraction, it’s really good for us to be reminded of the hope that matters!
Material goods, politicians, jobs, money, and controversies are all fleeting. God’s love is eternal, and those of us who know Jesus Christ can experience this eternal life both in this life and in the life to come. We must never lose sight of this fact. Clinging to hope will not make the challenges of our lives or the problems of the world vanish. But this mighty hope can give us the perspective, the resolve, and the courage to contend with evil in our own hearts and in the world around us.
Friends, grab a Bible. Open it up, and dive in. Let the message of hope change you. Let the revelation of God’s perfect love in Jesus Christ be everything for you. That’s all it takes to change the world, one life at a time beginning with your own heart.
I’m looking forward to praying this collect every day of the week, and I hope you will, too. We all need the reminder. We all need hope.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
More from our ministry:
This collect inspires a deep dive into the Prayer Book: Inwardly Digest
Time’s running out to order your Advent devotionals and calendars
In case you missed it: We’re hiring a Discipleship Program Coordinator
Scripture and spiritual practices for your life: The Way of Love Bible Challenge