The Word

“All Scripture is inspired by God [breathed out by God] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. 2009. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

The very mist of God’s breath graces the words of the Bible. His life-giving air moves in its meanings. The Word desires application in our hearts and actions. It is effective for rebuking in distinct disapproving critique of one’s actions. It is effective in correcting, in the herding of wandering Jesus-followers back onto the beautiful path of Truth. It is effective in training in the practice of right-doing, in disciplined and repetitive exercises which keep us lean and fit as we travel. This is for our personal benefit. We will appear like an Olympian, built with the right muscles in the right places for the specific event we must compete in. We stand strong, supported with the Word of Scripture.

“In the beginning was the Word, [Logos] and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”

John 1:1-3

Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. 2009. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Creative power pulses in the Word of Scripture. The Bible radiates with God’s energetic person, cutting coming and going like a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12-13). Scripture emanates a living potency that is powerful enough to form the earth, order the cosmos and bring many sons to glory through Its specific revelation among humanity, Jesus of Nazareth (Heb. 2:10).

“I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You… Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:11 & 105

Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. 2009. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

The Word of Scripture, including- with emphasis- those ordinances and directives spoken by the lips of Jesus Christ Himself, are a valued treasure. These breathing tenants of instruction and guidance should be housed in the core of our conscious selves, where we think, feel, dream and imagine. God’s Word dialogues with our souls. They encourage us in right-doing and draw us away from the wastelands of sinfulness and chaos. This Word illuminates our path, guiding us over miles of expansive terrain on a narrow and high road. The word is our lantern allowing us the will to rule and tend to our beautiful pathway of truth, running like a highway through God’s kingdom.

“Here again is your job: learn the lines, find a simple objective like that indicated by the author, speak the lines clearly in an attempt to achieve that objective.”

(Mamet, p. 57)

Mamet, David. True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor. Vintage Books, 1999.

As actors prepare for a theatrical production, Jesus-followers must treasure the Author’s (God’s) intention when reading His Word. While internalizing the Word of Scripture, we should prepare to act on its teaching and instruction. As the screenplay or script would have stage directions, Christ is inescapably specific in the Gospels in how we are to model our everyday lives after Him.

Start somewhere! Begin to read the Psalms. Read a Gospel. Try starting with the Psalms of Ascents (Ps. 120-134) and the Book of Mark, the shortest of all the Gospel accounts. Read a Psalm in the morning. Read a chapter of Mark before bed. Begin to meditate on the Psalms. Fall asleep picturing Jesus living and serving. During your day find one simple application. Find one way to speak truth in word and/or deed. Find one way to bring the living Word to life in you. A life in the Word begins as simply as that.

“Remember, God is as Great as He is Good!”

Noah R. Hunt