Real Life

Many years ago when my family first came to JAARS, God used a dear brother that I met only once to challenge my thinking and open my eyes. He came to JAARS to lead a conference on prayer and devotion to God. His challenge came in the form of a question, “How do you see the Bible?”

“If you see it primarily as a mirror, you will struggle to spend time in God’s Word. Your focus will turn to yourself and your own shortcomings. Each time you read you’ll likely come away discouraged and not want to read more.”

“If, however, you see God’s Word as a window onto the heart and character of God, then each time you read you’ll grow in awe and wonder at the beauty and love of God and of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. You’ll want to come back again and again.”

He was right.

My own reading and prayerful reflection on Scripture over the years since then has become more and more precious. Each time I grasp a bit more clearly the nature God’s love, power, perfection, and purity. And I realize how much more we have to discover—now and then fully when we see him face-to-face.

As we pray and work to see God’s Word translated and accessible for people from every tribe, nation, and language, I believe we can’t forget to draw near to God in awe and wonder ourselves. I encourage you to keep reading and reflecting on Scripture in your own language so you grow in your relationship with God in Christ.

Jude says it well. “This is the unending life, the real life.”


But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Jude 20-21 (MSG)

Woody McLendon
President, JAARS Inc.