The Word of God

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” Mt. 4:4

      Beginning with the very first chapter of our Bible, we learn something so essential about God that if we do not recognize it, we will find ourselves wandering about in lifeless religious activity. The truth is that the very nature of God is to convey His glorious person and His eternal plan thru the medium of His Word.  He begins our understanding of these things by speaking all creation into existence. That means of communication continued as He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden, and then as time continued, He “spoke” to and through His servants the prophets. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us ”In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (He. 1:1). The essential truth we must glean from these testimonies is that it is God’s very nature to, through the medium of His Words, make know who He is and what He plans to do.  

The second half of that verse in the first chapter of Hebrews continues with “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”. Jesus Christ today continues that method of communication as the very embodiment of God’s Word. The gospel of John testifies to Jesus’ role as the conveyor of God’s words saying “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). Both the written and the spoken words of God today are the very manifestation of God. They are the absolute authority to which everyone who calls himself a child of God must surrender.  They are also the absolute authority by which all mankind will be held to account.  

The degree to which we surrender our lives to the authority of scripture is the degree to which we will experience victorious spiritual life here on earth. It is written that “the word of God is quick and powerful”, and it is devotion to the Word that brings “power” to the Christian life.  For that power to be experienced, the Word must be both believed and obeyed.

Scripture itself warns of the danger of only recognizing “part” of its authority.  Jesus says “many will say Lord Lord” yet will in find themselves powerless over sin and in a place of rebellion against God (Mt. 7:23).  Their rebellion comes from only surrendering to “part” of the authority of scripture, and not to “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mt.4:4) .

In a word of rebuke to the Corinthians, Paul challenges their manner of faith saying “Is Christ divided?” (1 Co.1:13).  We might interpret this as saying “do you only have to surrender to ‘part’ of Christ’s authority?”    This would deserve the same response that Paul gives to the question he poses to the Romans asking “Is God a liar?” That response was an emphatic “God forbid” (Ro. 3:4 KJV). This should be our response to “Is Christ divided?” Since Jesus Christ is the Word, the spiritual progression of this would be “Can the Word of God be divided?” Our response, in both word and deed, must be the same resounding “God forbid”. 

Since ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, then it must be to “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” that we daily surrender our lives.  We cannot treat the Word of God as a smorgasbord of religious instruction where we choose which scriptures appeal to us according to our own appetites. Rather, the Word of God should be very bread of life by which in its entirety guides and shapes our lives regardless of our current appetites.  The degree of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives will depend upon the degree we surrender to the authority of the entire Word of God. 

Therefore, today, choose to let the “word of Christ dwell in you richly”, (Col.3:16) by allowing it to lead and guide every step you take and every decision you make. In doing so, you will find the promises of that Word working the power of spiritual life within you each day.  Jesus has promised us “It is the Spirit who gives life… the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (Jn.6:63)