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“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” The question comes from a group of Pharisees in Matthew 22. Jesus takes them back to center by answering, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Embedded within these words in an invitation to walk closely with God and be changed. These words provide a framework as you read your Bible this week. Every day ask yourself, “How does this passage draw me closer to God?” Meditate on how His words change your views and perceptions of the life we live now and the eternity God has promised. Look closely at how Embedding the Bible transforms your mind. How does it change the way you think? How does the Bible shape your reactions and attitudes? The Bible is more than a series of facts, an interesting historical story, or even a moral guidebook. The Bible is God speaking into the lives of His people. Reading and embedding the Bible in our hearts is a path to transformation. God shapes us in the reading when we are open to His leading.

In Matthew 16:5-12, Jesus has an interesting discussion with His apostles. Traveling to a new place, the disciples realize that they forgot to bring any bread with them. Remember that this moment of hunger is framed by two miracles that specifically involve bread. In each case, thousands were fed and leftovers trumpeted God’s abundance and power. As the disciples talk about bread, Jesus warns them about the yeast of the Pharisees. The disciples are worried about providing for themselves, but Jesus wants them to lift their eyes and see Who is standing with them. The cautioning words of Jesus are meant to pierce the worries and cares of the day, letting His people see that God stands among them. The disciples misunderstand. Jesus explains that what they take in shapes who they are. In this case, the teaching of the Pharisees will not help them see Jesus and the power of God. Like the disciples, we live with the truth that “we are what we eat.” Embedding the Bible is all about taking in what Jesus offers. Beware of anything that does not lift your eyes to see Jesus.

In Matthew 10:25, Jesus makes a profound statement. In just one short sentence, Jesus sums up what it means to be a disciple. He says, “It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” Here is the heart of what Jesus desires for His followers – to be like Him. Embedding the Bible brings us face to face with Jesus. It allows us to see how He moves and acts. It gives us a picture of how He thinks and responds. Spending time reading and studying the Bible is time spent with Jesus. Like any relationship, we are shaped by the time we spend together. As you read this week, notice the times that Jesus heals the sick, calms the storm, and raises the dead. Watch as Jesus calls Levi to follow, and listen as He instructs His disciples as they go out preaching. Each moment is a moment of amazing grace. A moment when Jesus enters the life of a person and changes them forever. As you read, remember that it is in this moment that Jesus is touching your life. Be prepared to be changed. Be prepared to be more like the Teacher.

As Matthew opens, we see God entering the world and the lives of men in an amazing way. Jesus, the One who will save His people from their sins, becomes man. Announcing His name to Joseph, the angel of the Lord proclaims that He shall be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” It is a picture of intimacy and relationship. Jesus wants to embed Himself in every moment of our days in order to transform us into Christ-likeness. Embed means to fix or retain in the mind and heart. God has chosen a very special way to embed Jesus within us. The Bible is God’s perfect revelation to man. Within its pages, we see the nature and character of God, hear the story of salvation and redemption, and experience the call to walk closely with God and be transformed in the image of Jesus. Everything we do with regard to spiritual growth and health is fueled by what we find in the Bible. This year, as we read through the New Testament together, our goal is to embed the Bible in our lives and imprint Immanuel on our hearts.