Woven - Week 1
Week 1 Recap:
Why the Scarlet Thread?
Introduction
A new year invites reflection, renewal, and a deeper look at what truly grounds our faith. As we step forward, Scripture calls us not to chase scattered ideas or isolated promises, but to see the Bible as one unified story. From beginning to end, there is a single message woven through every page. It is the story of God restoring what was broken and bringing people back to Himself. This story is often called the scarlet thread, the work of atonement that reveals who God is and what He has done.
A Story Planned From the Beginning
The Bible does not tell a collection of disconnected spiritual lessons. It reveals a plan that begins in Genesis and unfolds all the way to Revelation. Humanity turns away from God, yet God immediately begins the work of redemption. Over and over again, Scripture shows people choosing something other than God, and over and over again God pursues them anyway. This pattern reveals a God who plans restoration long before people realize they need it. Redemption is not an afterthought. It is the foundation of the story.
What Atonement Really Means
Atonement is not a word commonly used in everyday life, yet it carries profound meaning. Atonement is God covering human sin so that relationship with Him can be restored. In the Old Testament, this covering comes through sacrifice, where blood stands in the gap between broken humanity and a holy God. In the New Testament, this same work reaches its fulfillment in Christ, whose sacrifice becomes final and complete. Through this covering, people are no longer separated but invited to walk with God again.
The Bible as One Woven Garment
Scripture is meant to be read as a unified whole. When pieces are pulled out on their own, the message becomes distorted. The Bible is not primarily a self help manual or a collection of inspirational quotes. It is a single garment held together by the work of Jesus. Every law, story, prophecy, poem, and letter points toward the same truth. God redeems through sacrifice, and that redemption finds its center in Christ. When Scripture is read this way, it becomes clear and alive.
Seeing Jesus in All of Scripture
After the resurrection, Jesus explains the Scriptures by showing how they all speak about Him. From the writings of Moses to the words of the prophets, the message is consistent. The Messiah must suffer and bring salvation. Scripture itself testifies that eternal life is not found in knowledge alone, but in knowing the One it reveals. When the Bible is read through the lens of Jesus, hearts are awakened and understanding deepens. The story becomes personal and transformative.
Knowing, Loving, and Following
Faith begins by knowing Jesus. Love grows as the weight of personal sin and the depth of grace become clear. Following becomes possible when surrender replaces self reliance. Atonement reminds us that nothing can be earned or fixed through effort alone. God acts first. When this truth settles in, it reshapes devotion, obedience, and trust. What once feels difficult becomes a response of gratitude rather than obligation.
Closing
The scarlet thread runs through every page of Scripture, declaring that God restores what is broken and draws people back to Himself. As this truth is seen more clearly, faith moves from routine to relationship. Knowing Jesus leads to loving Him, and loving Him leads to following His ways. This is the invitation of the story and the hope that carries us forward.
