A Living Word

“They received the Word with readiness . . and searched the Scriptures daily.” Acts 17:11 NKJV.

A Godly life is the living application of eternal truth.

My thoughts and comments today are about “a living Word.”

There is a difference when you are “into” something, in contrast to being casual or curious. You can browse some books and that is sufficient, while another book so piques your interest that you carefully read every sentence, hardly moving to the next chapter without processing what you have read. The Bible is like the latter. See Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV.

Unlike other books, the Bible is not read merely for an intellectual grasp of its information. Life is not an academic process; a full and successful life is found in what you do and who you are. Be as those Christ-followers who, “. . received the Word with readiness . . and searched the Scriptures daily.” Acts 17:11 NKJV. The Bible is God’s Word to conform hearts, rather than inform heads. The power of Scripture is found in its living application to your daily life. That’s why Jesus said, “Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 NKJV. To do that, you must choose to get “into” the Word, prizing its truth, seeking its meaning, and applying its principles in your life consistently.

A Godly life is the living application of eternal truth – God’s truth. “For the Word of God is living and powerful . .” Hebrews 4:12 NKJV. Paul warned young Timothy about those who have “a form of godliness but denying its power . . always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.´ 2 Timothy 3:5/7 NKJV. The power of true Godliness is found in the life that reflects God’s Word in practical ways. Job explained the process, “My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept His ways and without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips. I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.” Job 23:11-12 NIV.

When you treasure His words in your heart, God permits circumstances that provide opportunity to practice the truth that He is building into your life. It takes time to change ingrained, character traits. Old habits are not broken easily, nor are new habits formed in a day. Reading a truth does not produce instant change. Change and growth come as you learn to apply truth in practical ways – when your thinking, choices, and reactions are shaped by truth. You become a living word to others; “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by everybody.” 2 Corinthians 3:2 NIV.

You learn to love by loving people not easily loved. You develop patience by accepting delays and irritations with grace, trusting the Lord’s timing. You learn peace by choosing tranquility in God’s rest, even in troubling moments. You discover joy when you learn that real joy is in God’s care, not your circumstances. Truth that you read becomes living truth as you encounter situations, and people, where you choose to do the right thing instead of your natural inclinations. As you search God’s Word, ask yourself, “How can this Scripture help me be a little more like Jesus today?”

My prayer for you today is: have a hunger for God’s Word that nothing else can satisfy.