The first and most prevalent sign of a hunger for the Lord is a hunger for his Word. In the midst of a series of interviews with a discipleship training class numbering over 50 young students, when asked “What are you most excited about learning during this class?,” 90% of the students replied something along the lines of “Getting into the Word more.” It was not a class advertised as a scriptural analysis, devotional seminar, or bible study. It was a class advertised to leaders whom had followers with potential to be leaders themselves. It was simply a class consisting of believers hungry for God and the thing on the forefront of everyone’s thoughts was the Bible because the Word is many things.
The Word is alive. There is an author’s voice behind every work of literature. A newly-hungry believer in a college ministry asked his leader for help whom responded by giving him books about the Lord. The first book given was authored by Winkey Pratney and the believer began reading it and absorbing its information. Shortly after, Winkey Pratney came to the believer’s college ministry for a weekend retreat and spoke many times throughout the retreat. When the believer continued reading the book after the retreat he noticed that it was a different experience. Though the same words were on the same pages; the believer had the voice of the author in his mind. The Word of God is paired with a dynamic opportunity to befriend its Infinite Author. With a relationship with God, every time a believer reads the Bible he/she has a newer, more intimate experience with the voice of God in which to interpret the Word into their own lives.
The Word is bread. Besides authentic prayer, reading one’s Bible is the most practical, effective means of strengthening a believer’s walk with God. Since we now know the Bible is alive and that it’s conditional on a real relationship with God; we can logically conclude reading it without correct motives may be counterproductive. “A chapter a day keeps the Devil away” may not be the most effective philosophy. If we have accepted Jesus into our lives as Lord, there is no formula that fits all persons the same. Before we slam the door on a regimented routine to avoid pointless rules, let us see the Truth behind why such rules exist. If rules without a relationship lead to rebellion; a relationship without rules leads to ruin. Jesus asked Peter to take care of his sheep for him (John 21:17). Every person when first awoken into eternal salvation acquires the responsibility of those still sleeping around him/her. A believer not only spends time in his bible for his own daily bread and sustenance, but also to put bread into his pockets to feed Jesus’ sheep.
The Word is your sword. Every person, believer or not, knows that life is hard; yet the believer with a love for the Word of God is at a great advantage. A believer devoted to reading the Bible is sharpening his/her sword daily. They are simultaneously protected for defense and equipped for an offense
The Word is Christ. After Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave, Thomas (one of Jesus’ disciples) still doubted until he put his hands upon Jesus’ wounds and believed. Jesus said “Blessed are those who have not seen me yet still believe” (John 20:29). At first glance, the disciples seem to have an advantage over believers of today since they walked with Jesus physically. But upon further inspection, believers today have the Bible in many languages, the Holy Spirit, and thousands of years of analysis still not sufficient to completely understand Jesus. Jesus is the Word and has always been since the world’s creation; his life on earth was simply the pen writing on paper, and we hold that Word still today.
All this knowledge acquired expands our responsibility to go into the world equipped with an intimate knowledge of the Bible. We believers have the incredible privilege of spending time in the Word of God. We have the opportunity to learn God’s will for our lives starting with our today. The Bible is living because Jesus is living. The Bible is bread because Jesus is bread. The Bible is our sword because Jesus is our sword. The Bible is Christ because Jesus is our Christ. Let us all hold it with its rightful value. Thank you, Lord!
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