For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)
Our world is in great morass because we have neglected God’s precious Word. Truth has become relative and the lines of clarity between right and wrong are blurred (at best). Yet, the Bible is true Truth. There is no book on earth like it. It is God breathed and profitable for the sojourner. It leads us to a further knowledge of God and godliness and testifies to us of Jesus. It is also alive, active and powerful and it is to be the Christian’s guidebook for all of life. All of life. Because Scripture is alive, its Words penetrate deep into our souls. Indeed, it can be so convicting that we will either change or we will quit reading it. It’s Words of conviction challenge us to go further still with the Lord Jesus and its Words of encouragement strengthen our weary souls in the process – bringing much peace and joy to the believer’s heart.
It is both the Christian’s duty and delight to know the Scripture’s Truths and not only know them but to apply them to our lives. Indeed, God’s Word is to be our guidebook for all of life and it is the only adequate rule for all holy obedience – not our imaginations or our inclinations or our bias’. If He said it, He means it. And unlike mankind, His Word never changes. God does not intend for us to remain the same. He wants us to “grow up” in Jesus and He uses His Word to teach us and the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and to equip us to walk in a manner worthy of the great Gospel we proclaim. The Bible is a special treasure in our hands to study and it is a great mercy that the tree of knowledge is not forbidden or kept hidden from us.
God’s Word is not simply to be an end in and of itself, rather it is to be used to transform us – from the inside out – making us more and more like the Savior. It convicts, exhorts, encourages, consoles, strengthens and on and on we could go. It is alive and it is “true Truth”. Remember, Jesus was to be the Firstborn among many brothers. And Scripture tells us in 1 John 2:6 (NIV): “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” We discover how He walked on this earth through His Word. Further, since it is living and active, we begin reading it and it ends up reading us, Amen? It is a deep mine of treasures and we neglect it to our own peril.
Scripture is our “God-breathed” Book and it is true Truth. We can trust its precepts and laws. Its cordials are rich enough to revive the fainting spirit and restore the wayward sojourner. And it was given to us for our good. We are indeed the great losers when we fail to read and adhere to its precepts. We hurt our families and ourselves when we remain ignorant of its Truths as it is a treasure trove of great riches and there is nothing on earth like it. It is the sole rule for our holiness. And it is to be the sieve through which we place all things before we make them a core value. Never, never neglect it. Never, never, never.
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)