"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48, KJV)

The manner in which one treats the Bible is an index to one's attitude toward God. I hear people say, "The Bible does not mean anything to me. I read it but it just does not mean anything to me." I doubt that the one that says this realizes the significance of the statement. What the Bible says to one depends upon one's attitude toward it.

The Bible is like God in this sense. Here is an instance of where the Bible is like God. "And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets" (I Samuel 28:6). Why was it that the Lord had nothing to say to Saul? Had God changed? Where was the problem?

Those familiar with the life of Saul know that his past life was one that despised the Word of God and this was an index to his character. God gave Saul specific commands to obey. But what was his attitude toward them? Were they commands that he could not understand? No. Even Saul did not say he did not understand what was to be done. Ponder carefully the Lord's statement by the prophet Samuel. "It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried all night unto the Lord" (I Samuel 15:11). What happened? Saul's attitude toward God's commandments was his attitude toward God.

God sent Samuel to Saul and the first thing Saul said was "I have performed the commandment of the Lord" (I Samuel 15:13). But Samuel told Saul he had not done what God said. Saul's pride got in his way and it affected his attitude toward God and His Word. Sauls attitude toward God's Word was also his attitude toward God. Samuel said to Saul, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (I Samuel 15:22). Let no one be mistaken, one's attitude toward the Word of God is one's attitude toward God. Saul's rejection of God's commandments was a rejection of God. The time came when God had nothing to say to him. How tragic.

Look at another example. "Then he questioned with him in many words: but he answered him nothing" (Luke 23:9). Doesn't this seem like a strange reaction of Christ? Some of the most familiar teaching that Christ gave came in answer to questions He received. In Mark 12 a scribe came to Christ and asked him, "Which is the greatest commandment?" Christ answered the scribe by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18. Now watch what happens. "And the scribe said unto him, well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God: and there is none but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:32, 33). Write the comment of Christ deep on the tablets of the heart. "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any questions" (Mark 12:34). Isn't it clear that the scribe's attitude was one that showed respect for the Word that Christ quoted from the Old Testament and thus his respect for Christ. His attitude seems to be placed in contrast to that of the other leaders. His attitude toward the Word of God was an index of his attitude toward Christ and this brought him near the kingdom.

What was Herod's attitude toward Christ? Luke 23:8 gives the answer. "And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him for a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him." His attitude toward Christ closed the door for understanding anything Christ said. What is your attitude?

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