The Living Word

One of my favorite things about the Bible is that no matter how many times you read it, there will always be something new to learn. You can read a passage a hundred times, and on the hundred-and-first pass something can jump out at you that you’ve never noticed before. 

The Holy Spirit’s cool like that. I mean, think about it.  Who better than the One who inspired the words in the first place to reveal the truth they contain? And who better to unveil certain passages at specific times than the One who knows you better than you know yourself? Pretty sure the answer is “no one.”

Yet how often do those of us who are followers of Christ, discount or completely forget the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives? Do we truly recognize that the very Author of the words we read lives within us? That He can and will teach us if we will only quiet our hearts and listen?

Ah, there’s the hard part—quieting our hearts in the midst of the craziness going on all around us. With the swirling myriad of thoughts and relentless distractions, simply being physically still can seem an insurmountable challenge, not to mention focusing our attention. However are we to do it?

We can’t—at least not with our own strength. But praise God we aren’t left to live the Christian life in our own strength. The very same Spirit who reveals the truth to us is the One who is powerful enough to help us quiet our hearts, to give us the strength to be still. May we marvel at the fact that the One who awakened us, who breathed spiritual life into our dead souls, is the One who lives within us 24/7, who helps us pray, gives us the desire to read the Bible, and then helps us understand what we read! How awesome is that?!

Brothers and sisters, remember the promise of Jesus: “When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-14, ESV). Be mindful of these words, and be encouraged that the promise has been fulfilled!

And whenever you sit down to open the Bible, remember that you are holding the very words of God Himself. Ask Him through the power of the Holy Spirit to quiet your soul, to clear your mind of distractions, and to prepare your heart to receive whatever He has to show you that day.  You never know how He’ll surprise you.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” ~ Hebrews 4:12-13