When we read God’s Word, He speaks to us. Are you ready for God to talk to you? Pick up His Word and read it!

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Part 2

We have been looking at four questions I wrote at the end of chapter two of, “A Grand Illusion,” by David Young about what radical progressives believe–or don’t believe.

Why do we need to recognize Jesus as Lord?
Why do we need a Savior?
How can the Bible be “living and breathing?”
What is holiness?

We are on the third question,

How can the Bible be “living and breathing?”

The phrase, “living and breathing,” comes from the NIV version of 2 Timothy 3:16-17,

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God has always spoken. To have it written down shouldn’t be a big surprise to anyone. The difference is the impact of the words of God and the words of man. When a ruler gives a decree, it is carried out in his kingdom. The same goes with God. What’s the difference? The magnitude of the kingdom and the power of the words.

• Man’s words are static; their power is in their meaning.
• God’s words are dynamic and have the power to create and transform.
• Men live and die; we read their words, but we cannot know them after they die.
• God is eternal; we read His words and He reveals their meaning to us.

Here is a verse that we would do well to memorize,

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

When we say that “The Word of God is living and active,” we mean that the Spirit of God reveals our thoughts and intents, our attitudes and our loves to us. The NIV actually says, “it penetrates,” but the Greek does not have “it,” which changes the meaning just enough to give the impression that the Word of God is separate from God Himself. It is not. Let’s look back on creation,

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The Hebrew word for God is “Elohim,” which is plural. All three of the Trinity were involved in creation. God the Father was the Master Owner, God the Son was the Master Architect, and God the Spirit was the Master Contractor and Builder. We know from John 1:1-3 that Jesus is the Word of God. Anytime God (Elohim) spoke, it was God the Son who was speaking. When we read the words of God now, it is God the Spirit speaking. Jesus told us as much in John 14:26,

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

He goes on to say in 16:12-15,

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

So, is the Word of God living and breathing? Yes, as surely as the Holy Spirit lives and breathes in our lives. Let’s read it, study it, memorize it, ponder it, and share it.

Abba, thank You for giving us a written version of Your will and way. May we trust Your Spirit to reveal to us what You want us to know today according to where we are in our journey with You. Speak to our hearts, Lord Jesus, speak that our souls will hear. Amen.