Last week we were talking on Things Unseen about the entire book of Romans, and this week

we've been thinking about only one verse, Romans chapter 8, verse 30.

Something very funny happened years ago when several of a Ligonier teaching fellows were sitting

around a table recording a program.

And right at the end we were talking about how to read the Bible.

And I used an illustration of how, when I was young, peppermints were the standard candy.

And when I was given one, I tended to crunch it,

so it was gone in a couple of minutes, whereas older people sucked them and could make them

last for half an hour. And I wanted to make the point that we should meditate, suck slowly,

on verses of scripture. And right at the end I made this confident pronouncement.

So, when it comes to reading the Bible, we shouldn't be crushers, we should be suckers. And there was a

kind of stunned silence among the teaching fellows. For a moment I thought they were amazed at my

insight and brilliant illustration, and then I realized what I'd said.

I'm not sure if the outburst of laughter was at the look of horrified realization on my face,

or at the fact I'd mistakenly thought I'd used a tremendous illustration.

I hope my insight was edited well and truly out. And since the

teaching fellows are my friends, they don't constantly remind me of the occasion. It was a very

funny moment, and since I was among friends, I think they've forgiven me. Now, I'm not going to

use that terrible illustration ever again, but I mention it today because

it is so terrible it might actually remind you of the point I was making so badly, that we

do need to linger on the teaching of Scripture.

And that's actually what we're doing this week. We're sucking its theology.

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