The Power Of God's Word
The first time I opened a Bible to read it, Jesus took the words off the pages and plunged them right into my soul. I was not a believer at the time, but that did not make God’s Word any less effective in ministering to me, right where I was. Jesus used His Word to show me the truth, reveal the gospel, and convict me of my sins – which ultimately led me to get saved. The night I trusted Jesus for my salvation, I was told to “be in God’s Word and stay in God’s Word,” and that is exactly what I did.
That was almost 33 years ago, and, as I have said before – some things never change! The Bible is just as powerful in my life today as it was back then. That is because God’s Word is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
I know for many of us, it is easy to fall into the trap of reading our Bible just to check it off our Christian “to-do-list.” Or we might neglect reading it altogether because there are too many other things demanding our attention.
My encouragement to you today is to go to God’s Word each day, even if you can only read for a few minutes. Have an attitude of expectation that Jesus will speak to you right where you are. As you read, allow the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is and grow you closer to God as a result.
Remember, the Bible is not just words on a page. It is God’s divinely inspired Word that is vital to the life, health, and growth of every one of us:
It enables us to know Jesus on a deeper level
It helps us understand and discover God’s plan for our lives
It teaches us how to live for Jesus
It increases our faith
It instructs us in sound doctrine
It trains us in righteousness
It equips us for every good work
It helps us avoid sin
It arms us with the truth of God
It prepares us for refuting false beliefs and doctrines