by Andrew Cromwell
Many people seem to treat God’s Word like a magic potion or
spell. Sometimes it is prayers that are written and printed in the classifieds
or buried in a certain place. It may be a certain phrase repeated half a dozen
times. Some like to take Bibles with them when they travel thinking they will
be protected or even print verses on bumper stickers or paint them on the walls
of their house.
The problem is God’s Word doesn’t work that way. The Bible is
not a book of spells. It is not an amulet to ward off evil spirits. And it
doesn’t magically protect someone who has verses tattooed on their body.
But it is powerful. It is life-changing. It gives us access
to the thoughts of God and gives us insight into the principles that He put into
place that govern the universe in which we live. It shows us how to live and
what to do when we mess up.
So, what makes God’s Word so powerful and how do we access it
in a way that it can result in change and blessing in our lives? Let me give
you a few thoughts on the subject.
Jesus said that the Scriptures were about Him. He also said
that if we want to have life, then we need to come to Him. So if we want to
know Jesus and have the quality of life that He talked about, then we probably
need to study God’s Word.
Coincidentally, one of the greatest arguments for the idea
that we should listen to what the Bible says is that Jesus said we should. I
don’t know about you, but I tend to go with the guy that came back to life
after being dead for three days. What He says carries much more weight than
what the media, the “smart” people, and my friends say.
God’s Word is revelation to us and for us. Life is
challenging and complicated and we need God’s guidance! I don’t know about you,
but there are times when I don’t know what the right decision is or what the
next step needs to be. I need God to reveal His thoughts on the matter. When I
get into God’s Word then my mind and spirit are filled with words that are
eternal and life giving. As I take these Words in, God’s Holy Spirit is able to
shine light on the thoughts of God that are relevant to my situation. But if I
don’t have His Word “hidden in my heart” then the revelation I need isn’t
there.
God’s Word is truth. In a world that is full of opinion, and where
everyone does what they think is right, the Word of God gives us access to a
solid place to stand. Rather than living our lives based on subjective opinion,
we can live our lives based on what is actually true. That makes all the
difference.
I’ve only scratched the surface, but the point is — God’s
Word is powerful if we get it inside of us. Because, if it is inside of us
(which requires us to read it, to think about it, to memorize it, and to
meditate on it) then we will have our thoughts corrected, our actions inspired
and our lives transformed. This doesn’t happen when we use the Scripture like a
magic potion, it happens as we see it as God’s revelation given to us for the
purpose of the transformation of who we are.
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