The Living Word

The Bible is the living word of God. This makes it the most important collection of words we’ll ever come across. It’s not like any other book of printed words, ‘for the word of God is alive 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’ (Hebrews 4:12). The word of God cuts, convicts and convinces. But do we really need it? In these days when we have so many conflicting words of advice, why should we put our trust in a book that dates back over thousands of years?

The Bible is truth. Truth is truth whether we believe it or not. We can turn away and ignore it, but it will catch up with us. Truth never fails. And if we abide by its teaching, we will find it contains some remarkable promises, like: “If anyone keeps my word he shall never see death” (John 8:51). His word must be of some considerable importance.

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God’ (John 1:1). From the beginning God and His Word are inseparable. He and the Word are as one.

The Apostle John wrote: ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the word of life’ (1 John 1:1). ‘The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us’ (John 1:14). Jesus became the Word in human form. He is also in complete union with the Father: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). God, Jesus and the eternal Word are united together in an eternal bond.

‘God created the heavens and the earth ... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters’ (Genesis 1:1). God is not a man. He is Spirit and the source of all life. Adam was formed from the dust of the ground and God breathed the spirit of life into his nostrils.“  God is spirit” (John 4: 24).

What makes the Bible different from any other book that has ever been written? - It did not come from the mind or intellect of man. It was written with the very words of God, breathed into the spirit of the writers.  ‘All Scripture is God-breathed’ (2 Timothy 3:16). It is only when the reader receives the Word that he is aware of God speaking directly into his heart.

Let’s look at the Bible again, with fresh insight into its source, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak words of life to our innermost being. As our spirit is quickened, the love of God becomes real, and speaks life to the soul. There’s power and hope and healing in the true and living Word of God, as there was and is in Jesus.

But we must discern it carefully. It’s just a still, small voice.