"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12, NASB
This was one of the first verses I memorized as a college student. Of course, the application was obvious: we must read our Bibles! At least that is what was taught. Through my journey of growing in my relationship with Christ, I've come to realize that God is not distant and just watching us to see how we are doing. He is active in our daily lives. In other words, God is very relational.
I've come to realize this verse is not about engaging in regular Bible reading or Bible study. This verse is making a declarative statement about God's relational intention. Let me illustrate with this word picture. Let's say I went on a long trip that kept me away for a year. While I was away, I wrote love letters to my wife. In my letters I declared my love and affection for her and encouraged her with words that reminded her of her great value. A few months after I have returned home, I walk into the bedroom and find her sitting there reading. I walk over and sit next to her and start talking to her. She holds up her hand and tells me to be quiet and says, "Can't you see I'm reading here! Please give me some space here!" I then notice she is reading my love letters.
Why would my wife trade a moment where she could spend one-on-one time with me to read letters I wrote to her? I realize that may sound absurd, but we do that as Christians. There are many times we may sit down, grab our Bibles and start reading. Father starts speaking to us and we ignore Him because we are too busy rushing through our "reading of God's word."
The "word" of God is His living word to us in real time, right now. The words in the Bible are His words, but they are not living until He speaks them to us in the moment. Please don't walk away from this post and think I am suggesting you never read your Bible again. If that were so, where do you think I found the verse in Hebrews! That's right, in my Bible. When I read that verse, Father said, "Hey Tom, I want to show you something really cool!" And now, I'm sharing with you what He shared with me!
Reading your Bible because you think that is what you are supposed to do to grow as a Christian is placing yourself back under law. Reading your Bible because you are engaging in real-time relationship with God is walking by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Listen to the Father's loving, living and active words to you as you go throughout your day. He will bring to your mind scriptures you have read and pondered. He loves doing that!
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." (1 Cor. 2:12-13, NASB)
