I have one key point I want to get across.
GET. IN. THE. WORD.
In my life, I see an obvious drastic difference in the days that I start my day with reading the Bible vs the days that I get out of bed too late and have to hurry off to work. Starting the day with the Word is so important! And I’m horrible at it. If anything, this blog post in particular is just me getting my thoughts out as a reminder for myself later. In fact, I think I’ve used all of these blogs in that way at one point or another. Kind of like a devotion that I’m writing for myself, all the reminders that I know I need help with, and encouraging everyone online to read along. haha!
Hebrews 4 words it so perfectly. Starting in verse 12:
For the word of God is living and active,...
I have two thoughts on this. First of all, so many people see the Bible as a history book instead of a handbook. That is WRONG! It is living and active! And this verse goes on to explain how awesome it is, but before we go there, I want to pose an idea.
John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
So here’s my thought. We talk about the Bible as the Word of God. John 1 is clearly talking about Jesus as the Word of God. What if - and this may seem crazy - we should quit trying to compartmentalize God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible as different things. What if we accepted that God is bigger than our brains could imagine? What if the Word is Jesus and us spending time in the Word is spending time with Jesus? This thing is so much more than ink printed on a page!!
To be clear, I am NOT saying Jesus wasn’t fully man and fully God. I believe everything written in my Bible happened. But I believe when we read our Bibles, something extremely challenging to wrap our minds around happens. Our inner spirit is spending time with the Holy Spirit. If the Word is Jesus and Jesus is the Word then when I’m spending time in the Word (Bible) I’m spending time with the Word (Jesus)!
These kinds of things are easier to talk about in person. I’d really like to know if that made sense to you (the reader) or if I’m just rambling something crazy and you’re already tuned out and about to close this webpage.
Either way, I’ll continue in Hebrews 4
(12) 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.
I don’t know about y’all, but that doesn’t sound to me like it’s merely describing a book in which we get history lessons about something that happened in the past. THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE! This is describing Jesus. It has to be. There’s so much good stuff worth diving into in that passage, but I have to move on in order to get the point across without turning this blogpost into a whole book. Now verse 14 on through the rest of the chapter...
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Here it comes. The final verse with my main point I want to highlight today, verse 16.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Y’all ready? Don’t miss this.
Get in the Word BEFORE you need it. Not during. Not after. Draw near NOW so that when a time of need comes, you already are receiving mercy and grace to help you through!
In relationships with people, time spent with that person, so long as they are a decent person, begins to build trust in that person. The more time you spend with someone, the more you know about them, the more you trust them.
How much more is that true about spending time with Jesus! Spending time reading the Bible is spending time with Jesus! And if you trust Him BEFORE a hardship comes, how much easier would that challenging season of life be! Don’t wait until you’re in the storm to learn to trust Jesus. Do it now. Build that faith now, so when the hardship comes and everything feels like it’s failing, you already have a firm belief that no matter what, you serve a great high priest!
