For the word of God is living 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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)
We so often take our easy access to God’s Word for granted. We, who have Bibles all over our houses and usually on our devices, have no excuses for neglecting its Truths. We do this to our own harm. Isn’t it so true that whatever we have so prevalent we often become nonchalant about, until, of course, it is taken away from us and then we begin to whine like a baby wanting milk. The Bible – God’s Word – is to be our source of strength, inspiration and encouragement as well as our guide for all of life. Scripture is not to be taken as mere idle words for us, rather it is to be our life. Moses told us in Deuteronomy 32:46-47A (NIV): “he said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you--they are your life.’” The health of our souls requires us to feed on the whole of Scripture and let it do its work in us and through us – not simply the parts that we want to pick and choose. It is the whole of Scripture that makes the Christian whole.
We begin reading the Bible and then the Bible begins reading us. The Spirit of God convicts us of the error of our ways using the Word of God and empowers us to change. Indeed, it is difficult for one to continue reading God’s Word without an eventual change in their lives. It is simply too convicting. We will either change or we will quit reading. The adversary of our souls seeks to keep us distracted and out of God’s Word in a myriad of ways – interrupting our reading or preventing it all together by distractions. He knows that that is where the power is and that is how change begins to take place in a life – by reading, studying and applying His Word to our lives.
God’s Word also serves as a delight for our souls. Psalms 119:92 (NIV) tells us: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” The Law of God revives the soul and its statues can be trusted to make one wise. Scripture is boundless in its value to our lives. We are never, never to neglect it.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:7-11 (NIV)